Bold claim: the MVP voting system in the NBL needs a full public reveal, and Kendric Davis isn't shy about saying so. Davis, Sydney Kings guard, narrowly missed out on the MVP to Bryce Cotton by two votes, finishing with 94 to Cotton’s 96, and he’s now calling for complete transparency in how those votes are cast.
Key events unfold from the MVP night: Cotton claimed his sixth Andrew Gaze Trophy with 96 votes, while Davis trailed close behind at 94. Davis took to social media to question the process, even targeting former MVP and current analyst Derek Rucker. By the Finals Launch on Tuesday, Davis was still firm in his stance.
“I want a crack at everybody. I want to see the votes, if I’m being honest,” he declared.
He acknowledged the potential pitfalls of public voting, saying, “When you give players votes, it can get tricky … but that’s just my opinion. It can go off who likes who; you can’t control that. But that’s how I feel.” He also noted a personal grievance, admitting, “I missed two votes on first team. Humbly speaking, like come on now. Let’s be honest. I want to fix the system. I want everything right.”
When asked how he would change the system, Davis argued for transparency: “We’ve just got to make it public. We want to know the votes, why you felt how you felt, and just have it out there. We want to see the people who vote for certain players you know shouldn’t win it, but you’re just doing it on purpose. That’s all I care about.”
After the awards, Davis took to Instagram Live to address fans. “They didn’t want me to win it from the get-go. They didn’t want me to win MVP from the get-go. Trust me,” he said, reflecting on media narratives and team dynamics that may have influenced perceptions.
About the voting structure: the MVP panel comprises the head coach and captain from each club, plus a panel of experts, with votes tallied on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis. The weights are split evenly among the coaches, captains, and experts, and coaches/captains cannot vote for players from their own teams.
Despite his frustration, Davis isn’t dwelling on the past. He’s shifted focus to future championships, noting, “Just win something that they can’t vote on … that’s how I look at it. Just win a Championship … that’s all that matters. If you asked Bryce, would he trade that MVP for a Championship? I think everyone would agree they would.”
This debate spotlights a broader question: should league awards be public, and how much should voters’ identities influence outcomes? Share your take: would public voting improve accountability, or could it fuel bias and popularity over merit? Would you support changes to the MVP process, or keep it as is?
