The MVP race is officially over—or so says Adelaide 36ers coach Mike Wells, who didn’t hold back after superstar Bryce Cotton’s jaw-dropping performance on Valentine’s Day. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is Wells’ bold declaration justified, or is he jumping the gun? Let’s dive in.
Cotton’s 42-point masterclass, capped by a clutch three-pointer that sealed the 92-89 win over the New Zealand Breakers, left Wells convinced. ‘It’s over,’ he declared in the post-game presser. ‘If it’s not over tonight, then tell me what the definition is.’ He doubled down, praising Cotton’s all-around dominance: 40 minutes played, guarding the opposing team’s best player, and single-handedly carrying his team. ‘If you’re not voting for Bryce Cotton, I want to know why,’ Wells challenged. And this is the part most people miss: Cotton’s consistency since joining the league has been unparalleled, making Wells’ argument hard to ignore—but is it enough to crown him MVP this early?
The game itself was a rollercoaster. The 36ers, trailing by double digits for most of the match, faced an 18-point deficit at one point. DJ Vasiljevic’s second-half explosion, including a crucial four-point play, sparked the comeback. With six minutes left, Cotton’s triple made it a four-point game, and Zylan Cheatham’s bucket sent the home crowd into a frenzy. When Cotton hit three free throws to tie the game with 3.5 minutes remaining, the momentum had fully shifted. Vasiljevic’s go-ahead basket with two minutes left sealed the deal, as the 36ers outscored the Breakers 33-18 in the final quarter.
Here’s the kicker: While Wells is all-in on Cotton, Wildcats coach John Rillie has other ideas. He’s hyping up Kristian Doolittle as a defensive powerhouse capable of shutting down Sydney’s Kendric Davis in their Sunday matchup—another MVP contender. ‘Let’s see what happens,’ Rillie teased, setting the stage for a heated debate. Are we overlooking Doolittle’s impact, or is Cotton’s offensive brilliance the deciding factor?
Adelaide’s sloppy start didn’t help their case. They began 0-from-5, falling into a 9-0 hole before Cotton’s first triple. Despite his early heroics, his teammates struggled, with only Isaac Humphries, Nick Rakocevic, and Cheatham contributing in the first quarter. The Breakers, meanwhile, shot 61% from the floor in the first half, led by Parker Jackson-Cartwright’s 14 points. Cotton’s 100th three-pointer of the season—on 39% shooting—was a bright spot, but Adelaide’s 16% three-point accuracy in the first half told the story of their struggles.
But here’s the question that divides fans: Is Cotton’s individual brilliance enough to secure the MVP, or does Doolittle’s defensive impact deserve more credit? Wells thinks it’s a done deal, but Rillie’s comments suggest the race is far from over. What do you think? Is Cotton the undisputed MVP, or is there room for debate? Let us know in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss!
