The 2026-27 NBL season is well underway, and after four rounds, the competition is slowly but surely beginning to separate the contenders from the rest, with several players already making strong cases for the league’s most prestigious individual award.
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The NBL veterans continue to reign supreme over the new imports who have joined the competition this season, with an injured superstar still dominating the MVP conversation despite missing the latest round.
Meanwhile, a Perth Wildcats sharpshooter is making a strong case for not only the Most Improved Player award, but MVP honours too, while a dominant big man is forcing his way into the guard-heavy conversation with his impressive two-way performances.
Fox Sports Australia takes a look at the top five players so far this season in our way-too-early NBL MVP Power Rankings.
NBL MVP Power Rankings: Round 4
5 | ELIJAH PEPPER | PERTH WILDCATS
He is the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award so far this season and, for the second consecutive week, finds himself inside the top five of our MVP rankings.
Elijah Pepper is having himself a career season, and while we’re only four rounds into the competition, the Wildcats sharpshooter is showing no signs of slowing down.
Coming off his fourth consecutive 25+ point performance, Pepper is scoring at an incredibly efficient rate by his standards. Normally known for his high-volume shooting and ability to provide instant offence, he is now showing he can maintain that production while being far more efficient.
The Wildcats are currently one of the best teams in the competition, sitting at 4-1, but the one thing slightly holding Pepper back in these rankings is the fact Perth have played all five games at home.
With the Wildcats yet to hit the road, producing similar performances away from RAC Arena will only strengthen his MVP case.
Season averages: 23.8 PPG | 3.2 RPG | 3.2 APG | 1.2 SPG | 50.0% FG
Advanced statistics:
– True Shooting: 62.8%
– Offensive Rating: 116.8
– Defensive Rating: 119.1
– Usage Rate: 28.8%
Power Rankings: Injured superstar holds top spot as Wildcats sharpshooter surges; big man’s bold MVP case.
Pepper is currently one of the most lethal shooters in the league, and although his advanced statistics aren’t quite as impressive as the other four players on this list, his overall production is more than worthy of another mention in our weekly MVP rankings.
If he continues this form, particularly once the Wildcats begin their road trips, there is no reason why he can’t climb even higher.
4 | BRYCE COTTON | ADELAIDE 36ERS
Despite Adelaide’s disappointing 3-4 start to the season, Bryce Cotton continues to do what he does best, putting up elite numbers while trying to get the 36ers back on track.
Currently second in the league for scoring (25.0) and third in assists (7.3), the six-time MVP finds himself in familiar territory, once again carrying a significant offensive load for his team.
And while Adelaide’s record might not reflect it, Cotton is producing at an incredibly efficient rate.
Season averages: 25.0 PPG | 1.6 RPG | 7.3 APG | 1.4 SPG | 44.3% FG
Advanced statistics:
– True Shooting: 66.1%
– Offensive Rating: 122.7
– Defensive Rating: 123.0
– Usage Rate: 29.1%
Although his defensive rating doesn’t do him any favours, Cotton’s remarkable 66.1% True Shooting percentage, combined with an assist rate of 32.8%, demonstrates just how heavily Adelaide rely on their superstar to create offence.
For a player who has dominated this league for so long, it almost feels like we’re taking his performances for granted.
Cotton remains one of the best players in the NBL without breaking a sweat, and if the 36ers can start stringing together wins, there is no reason why we won’t see him climb these rankings.
However, team success will play a significant role in just how high he can go.
3 | WILL MAGNAY | TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS
He is the only big man to feature in this week’s rankings, and depending on where you look, he might only be getting this level of MVP recognition from Fox Sports Australia.
But Will Magnay absolutely deserves to be in the conversation.
The Tasmania JackJumpers currently sit atop the NBL standings with a 4-1 record, and Magnay has arguably been the biggest reason behind their impressive start to the season.
He has a genuine case as the best two-way player in the competition right now, and what makes Tasmania’s early success even more impressive is the fact they’ve already played three games on the road.
Magnay leads the league in blocks, is tied for fourth in rebounds and, among centres, leads the competition in assists.
However, one of the most impressive improvements in his game has been his ability to get to the free-throw line.
The JackJumpers big man is averaging a career-high 9.4 free-throw attempts per game while converting at 72.3%, also a career-best mark.
Season averages: 16.8 PPG | 8.0 RPG | 4.8 APG | 2.6 BPG | 63.2% FG
Advanced statistics:
– True Shooting: 71.6%
– Offensive Rating: 143.2
– Defensive Rating: 110.2
– Usage Rate: 19.7%
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His advanced statistics are nothing short of remarkable.
Magnay leads this group in True Shooting percentage and Offensive Rating, while his defensive impact continues to be one of the biggest reasons Tasmania have established themselves as an early championship contender.
What makes his production even more impressive is his relatively low 19.7% usage rate, showing just how effective he has been without needing the offence to run through him on every possession.
For a player who has battled a lengthy history of injuries, Magnay is currently playing some of the best basketball of his career.
If he can stay healthy and maintain this level of production, we might genuinely see the first big man crowned NBL MVP since Xavier Cooks in 2023, following Andrew Bogut’s triumph in 2019.
And given Tasmania’s impressive start, he deserves to be taken seriously in the conversation.
2 | KENDRIC DAVIS | SYDNEY KINGS
He finished runner-up in last season’s MVP race, but the reigning Finals MVP and NBL champion has picked up right where he left off in NBL26.
Kendric Davis remains one of the most dangerous offensive players in the competition, and despite Sydney’s recent loss to Adelaide, there is little reason to suggest his MVP credentials have taken a significant hit.
Some might argue Davis doesn’t deserve to be ranked this high, particularly with the Kings having played just four games, all at home.
However, Sydney remain one of the strongest teams in the league, and Davis continues to be the driving force behind their offence.
What’s particularly impressive is that he is producing some of his best numbers while averaging just 31.9 minutes per game.
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And when you dive into his advanced statistics, one number stands out above the rest.
Davis has a massive 33.7% usage rate, the highest among the five players in these rankings, yet has committed turnovers at an incredibly low rate of just 5.4%.
For a player who handles the ball as much as he does, that is remarkable.
Season averages: 24.3 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 6.5 APG | 2.6 BPG | 43.6% FG
Advanced statistics:
– True Shooting: 57.5%
– Offensive Rating: 129.3
– Defensive Rating: 108.2
– Usage Rate: 33.7%
Although his True Shooting percentage is the lowest among the five players, Davis makes up for it with his elite playmaking, ability to create his own shot and impressive ball security.
His 129.3 Offensive Rating also highlights just how effective he has been despite carrying such a significant offensive responsibility.
For now, Davis remains a top-three player in the competition based on current form.
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And with Sydney preparing to face the Perth Wildcats in a blockbuster clash between two of the league’s early heavyweights, he has another opportunity to make a statement.
If Davis can produce another dominant performance against one of the NBL’s strongest teams, there is no reason why he can’t stamp his authority on the MVP race.
1 | PARKER JACKSON-CARTWRIGHT | NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS
This might be a little controversial, particularly considering Parker Jackson-Cartwright missed the latest round and is expected to remain sidelined for another month through injury.
But for now, he is still deserving of the number one spot.
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There is no denying his absence will eventually impact his position in these rankings, particularly as the other MVP contenders continue to build their cases.
However, missing one round shouldn’t take away from the absolute tear Jackson-Cartwright was on before suffering his injury.
The Breakers superstar remains the league’s leading scorer at 26.6 points per game, while sitting second in assists (9.4), behind Brisbane Bullets guard Arnas Velička.
But what separates Jackson-Cartwright from the rest of the competition is his remarkable 44.4% assist rate.
For a player already leading the league in scoring, his ability to create opportunities for his teammates at that level is simply extraordinary.
New Zealand’s 3-3 record might work against him when compared to the other MVP candidates, but you also have to consider the circumstances.
The Breakers have dealt with several injuries to key players throughout the opening rounds, and Jackson-Cartwright has been the driving force behind their ability to remain competitive.
Season averages: 26.6 PPG | 4.4 RPG | 9.4 APG | 1.6 SPG | 48.4% FG
Advanced statistics:
– True Shooting: 63.1%
– Offensive Rating: 127.7
– Defensive Rating: 107.7
– Usage Rate: 30.6%
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Jackson-Cartwright arguably has the best combination of scoring volume, playmaking and overall offensive production among the five players on this list.
His 63.1% True Shooting percentage is particularly impressive considering the offensive responsibility he carries, while his 127.7 Offensive Rating further demonstrates his impact on the Breakers.
And when you combine those numbers with his league-leading scoring average and extraordinary assist rate, it’s difficult to argue against his position at the top.
For now, Jackson-Cartwright remains our number one MVP candidate, and his performances before injury deserve that recognition.
Unfortunately, his extended absence will almost certainly see him drop down these rankings in the coming weeks, particularly if the likes of Davis, Magnay and Cotton continue their strong form.
But based on what we’ve seen on the court so far this season, Jackson-Cartwright has set the standard.
Editorial note: I’ve kept your rankings, statistics and overall arguments intact. One figure worth checking before publication is Kendric Davis’ 2.6 BPG, which appears unusually high for a guard and may be intended as steals per game. I’ve also retained the team records as supplied.
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