Perth Wildcats star Bryce Cotton can claim to be the second most decorated player in NBL history behind Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze after winning his fourth league MVP award.

The Wildcats star entered the GOAT discussion after drawing with champions Melbourne Tigers at the Andrew Gaze MVP awards night at CIEL The Venue in Melbourne.

It was an evening of glitz and glamor to celebrate another successful year for the national basketball league, which again set broadcast and viewership records this season.

This includes special guests from the three-time NBA champion Chicago Bulls Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant.

Pippen kicks off the 2023/24 NBL season and returns to Australia in February for the tour, joining his championship side with Chicago Bulls teammates Luc Longley and Australian Grant.

Nigerian-Australian singer-songwriter Timomatic was the musical talent of the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards night

The Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night celebrates another successful year for the NBL with attendance and broadcast records broken once again.

Chicago Bulls champion Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and Australian Luc Longley were special guests at the Andrew Gaze MVP awards night.

Wives and girlfriends of NBL players pose for photos at the Andrew Gaze MVP Awards night

The crowd was serenaded by Australian singer and performer Timomatic, the Nigerian-Australian singer-songwriter who rose to fame at the 2011 edition of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.

He performed some of his hits, including Set It Off, to excite the crowd at the gala.

Cotton retook the tournament’s individual honors on Monday night, ahead of Breakers’ New Zealand import Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Melbourne United marksman Chris Goulding.

Cotton joins Gaze as only two players to have won the MVP award more than three times, having won it in 2018, 2020, and 2021.

The Melbourne Tigers Great Gaze have won the award which now bears his name seven times, including five consecutive seasons from 1994 to 1998.

Cotton leads the NBL again this season – for the seventh time in eight years – averaging 23.15 points per game.

Andrew Gaze (left) is Australian basketball royalty and currently Bryce Cotton is the only player to win as many MVP awards as the former champion Melbourne Tigers.

Cairns’ Tahjere McCall, Melbourne United’s Patrick Miller and Ian Clark arrive ahead of the 2024 NBL MVP awards night

Australian Boomers and Melbourne United veteran Brad Newly have called his stellar career with the NBL playoffs his last in professional basketball.

The 31-year-old American defender also averaged 4.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals, putting Perth (17-11) in second place in the standings behind Melbourne.

Cotton missed the Wildcats’ loss to Tasmania on Sunday with a knee injury, but is certain to return for the Grand Final.

Even though Goulding didn’t cut the MVP award, Melbourne didn’t leave empty-handed after the tournament’s awards ceremony.

Dean Vickerman was named manager of the year for propelling United to the top of the table after finishing seventh and missing the final last year.

Goulding’s teammates Ian Clark and Shea Ili were also recognized, named best sixth man and best defensive player.

Tasmania JackJumpers combo guard Sean Macdonald was named the tournament’s most improved player and Illawarra Hawks forward Sam Froling won the Next Generation award.