Photo credit: GameFace NZ
The Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams Centre Lachlan Olbrich has been named Most Valuable Player for the 2024 Sal's NBL season, leading the Rams to a league-best 17-3 record during the regular season before hitting the game winning bucket to secure Canterbury's presence in a second consecutive final.
The 20-year-old Aussie posted regular season averages of 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds 3.1 assists and 1.1 blocks on 58% shooting inside the arc and 33% outside of it to claim recognition as the NBL's top player.
Olbrich was selected on the All Star 5 team while also being honured as the Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners Cup) and as the Youth Player of the Year as he personally reached 17 consecutive wins before the Rams fell in their final regular season game.
He wasn't the only Ram to feature on the awards dockets, as teammate Taylor Britt was selected to the All Star 5 and also collected the Most Improved Player award for his stellar season. Britt compiled averages of 16.3 points, 6.4 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 56% on field goals and 40% from three. Voters finding his jump to all league level, as he guided the Rams to the leagues best record (and a 16 game win streak), to be the most impressive improvement by a player this season.
Joining the Rams players in awards recognition is Coach Judd Flavell, selected winner of the Steve McKean Coach of the Year award for directing the Rams to a 17-3 record to claim top seed in the post-season as the Rams look to defend their title. The 3-time NBL championship winning coach takes home his first coach of the year award as the Rams look to claim back-to-back titles in the Sal's NBL for the first time since Wellington Saints pulled off the feat in the 2016 and 17 seasons.
Auckland Tuatara forward Rob Loe joins the Rams duo on the All Star 5 team, claiming the honour for the 2nd straight season, and also scooped the Defensive player of the year award for the second consecutive year. His averages of 20.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1 steal per game as the Tuatara finished second on the table were good enough to also claim the Stan Hill Trophy as the Most Outstanding New Zealand Forward/Centre for a third consecutive year cementing his place in the annals of league history.
Semi-Finalist and Franklin Bull Luther Muhammad claims an All Star 5 roster spot as well, as the leagues leading scorer (25.9 points per game) rounded out his game with 5 rebounds and 4 assists on a 54% effective field goal percentage on the most effective mid-range game in the league. He will also have his name etched on the Keith Carr Trophy as the Most Outstanding Guard in the competition.
2024's final member of the All Star 5 is Taylor Hawke's Bay Hawks guard Isaiah Moore, who's tremendous pace had the Hawks on an equal wins total for a Final 6 placing before bowing out on points percentage. The leagues second leading scorer averaged 25.7 points, 7.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals to impact the game on both ends of the court.
In the Sky Broadband Rapid League BBQ's Direct Canterbury Rams Kaia Isaac was selected the inaugural MVP. The leagues leading scorer (11.4 points per game) also finished 4th in steals (1.1 steals per game) while shooting 39.5% from three also claimed a spot on the Rapid League All Star 5.
He was joined by the leagues leading assist man in Kazlo Evans Jr. (Mills Albert Projects Wellington Saints), Josh Aitcheson (top ten in point and rebounds for the Night 'n Day Otago Nuggets) and inaugural Sky Broadband Rapid League champions Nick Davidson and Hayden Jones from the NBS Nelson Giants.
The awards nominees (in those categories where they are needed) are supplied by NBL head coaches, with each coach able to select players from any team (including their own) to nominate. The MVP and All Star 5 (for NBL and Rapid League) list is compliled from the season MVP rankings which are voted upon by coaches after each game, with the top ten vote getting guards and forward/centres being listed from which to choose winners. The Outstanding Guard and Forward Centre is the leading vote getter for MVP, with the Kiwi winners being the New Zealand Player that finished highest on the ballot.
All 11 Head Coaches vote on the finalists and are joined by a panel of media experts chosen to supplement the voting process. This years selection was Justin Nelson (Sky Sport Commentary), Taylah Johnson (Sky Sport Commentary), Krystal Leger-Walker (Sky Sport Commentary), Andrew Mulligan (Sky Sport Commentary), Casey Frank (Sky Sport Commentary) and Mike Lacey (Independent Basketball Journalist).
MVP - Lachlan Olbrich (Rams)
Defensive Player of the Year - Rob Loe (Tuatara)
Youth Player of the Year - Lachlan Olbrich (Rams)
Most Improved Player - Taylor Britt (Rams)
All Star Five - Rob Loe (Tuatara), Lachlan Olbrich (Rams), Luther Muhammad (Bulls), Taylor Britt (Rams), Isaiah Moore (Hawks)
Steve McKean Coach of the Year – Judd Flavell (Rams)
Most Outstanding Guard (Keith Carr Trophy) - Luther Muhammad (Bulls)
Most Outstanding NZ Guard (John Macdonald Trophy) - Taylor Britt (Rams)
Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners Cup) - Lachlan Olbrich (Rams)
Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre (Stan Hill Trophy) - Rob Loe (Tuatara)
Scoring Champion (Alan Bland Memorial Trophy) - Luther Muhammad (Bulls)
Rebounding Champion (Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy) - Josh Roberts (Hawks)
Assist Champion (Dave Taylor Trophy) - Corey Webster (Tuatara)
Best Team Free Throws (Nial Forsyth Trophy) - Taranaki Airs
Rapid League MVP - Kaia Isaac (Rams)
Rapid League All-Star Five - Kazlo Evans Jr. (Saints), Kaia Isaac (Rams), Nick Davidson (Giants), Hayden Jones (Giants), Josh Aitcheson (Nuggets)
Club of the Year- Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams
General Manager of the Year- Jordan Mills Mills Albert Wellington Saints
Best Fan Engagement- Auckland Tuatara
Best Social Media- NBS Nelson Giants
Best Game Presentation- Taranaki Steelformers Airs
Video Content Creator of the Year - Danielle Eagle- NBS Nelson Giants
Best Media Coverage- Southland Times/Stuff
Journalist of the Year- Adrian Seconi (Otago Daily Times)
Photo of the Year - Richard Connelly - GameFaceNZ- Taylor Britt Fadeaway
Best Digital Team Creative- Mills Albert Wellington Saints - Sharks Game Day - Paddy Martin Design
