Kings trio nominated for NBL Awards

Jaylen Adams, Xavier Cooks and Chase Buford have all been named finalists for three of the NBL’s regular season awards.

Adams headlines the trio by being named as one of three finalists for The Andrew Gaze MVP Award.

Adams is top-five in points per game and leads the league in assists per game while having some of the most spectacular clutch plays of the season.

Adams finished second in G League MVP voting in the 2019-2020 season.

And the two-time NBL MVP himself Kevin Lisch says that Adams is the clear favourite for MVP; read more here.

Xavier Cooks was named as a finalist for The Damian Martin Trophy for the Best Defensive Player, he has been the linchpin of the Kings’ dominant defence this season.

NBL Analyst Peter Hooley broke down what the Kings have done right on the defensive side of the floor, describing Cooks’ efforts as a one-man team defence here.

Finally, Head Coach Chase Buford has been named as a finalist for the Lindsay Gaze Coach of the Year Award.

Buford as a first-year NBL head coach and has had a historic season. He has won the most games of any first year Kings head coach with 13, as well as has won the most consecutive games as a Kings coach in their first season (13). Buford also has the most consecutive wins on the road for a Kings coach of eight, which could increase to nine or more depending on the result of tonight against the Taipans and the Finals. 

Buford was the runner-up for Coach of the Year in the NBA G League in the 2019-2020 season with the Wisconsin Herd.

The winner of The Andrew Gaze MVP Award, along with all other awards for the 2021/22 season, will be announced next Wednesday April 27, live on ESPN.

See our Kings live at Qudos Bank Arena against the Illawarra Hawks on Sunday, April 24 at 2.45 pm in our Starlight game. Get your tickets here.