Few people can claim to have had the resumes in topflight British basketball that Ant Rowe, Drew Lasker and Mike Tuck have amassed, which is why they were the perfect trio to sit down with and preview the upcoming Super League Basketball season.

Ant, Drew and Mike gave their thoughts on a bunch of topics, which we’re excited to share with you ahead of the season start on Friday night, and after discussing their thoughts on who will win the Championship, now they go for their end-of-season award selections.

Read on to find out more about their choices.

Ant Rowe:

Most Valuable Player (MVP): Joel Scott — London Lions

Joel Scott was the most consistent performer in last season’s London Lions squad, domestically and in Europe. Had injury not intervened, he was firmly on track to be MVP last year. Stay healthy this season, and I believe he proves he is the most valuable player in the league. His efficiency within the Lions’ system is remarkable, and for a 6’7″ big man, his defensive versatility, proven against longer opposition in EuroCup, makes him uniquely impactful. He was also the best player in the biggest game last season, picking up MVP honours in the Play-off Final at The O2. That’s the stage he delivers on.

Ed Percival Coach of the Year: Tautvydas Sabonis — London Lions

Sabonis was deservedly Coach of the Year last season, and I see no reason why that changes. His defence-first culture is genuinely embedded in the group he leads, and his energy from the sideline is infectious — there are moments where it feels like London have six players on the floor. He’s one of the youngest coaches in the league, but that youth is an advantage; he connects with his players in a way that other coaches sometimes can’t. I believe year-on-year he’ll get better, and I think the trajectory only goes one way… up! 

Most Improved Player: Damari Lindo — Liverpool Basketball

Damari Lindo showed real quality for Cheshire Phoenix last season. His minutes were limited at times, understandable given how deep that roster was, but when he played, you saw a player with serious potential. Now at Liverpool Basketball, he’ll have a bigger role and a full year of professional basketball under his belt. His numbers last season of 6.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and just under an assist per game will all improve, and I think he’ll be ferocious defensively while producing more on the offensive end. He’s my standout pick for Most Improved.

Defensive Player of the Year: Tarik Phillip — London Lions

Tarik Phillip is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and I’m backing him to reclaim that title. I think he’ll be the best individual defender on what I believe will be the best defensive team in the league, that combination makes him almost impossible to overlook. Tarik is the kind of player who can score two points or twenty and still be the most impactful person on the court. He leads by example, he raises the defensive intensity of everyone around him, and he is a central reason why the London Lions’ defensive record is as exceptional as it is.

Drew Lasker:

Most Valuable Player — Devante Jones, London Lions

Historically, high-usage guards tend to take home the big-boy trophy at the end of the season, and Devante Jones enters Super League Basketball with one of the most impressive résumés we’ve seen since Sam Dekker.

Coming off a First-Team All-EuroCup season, he gives London an elite creator who can score, make plays for others and control games from the point guard position. He’s surrounded by hungry offensive talent, so there are plenty of mouths to feed.

I’m predicting Jones to lead the league in assists. European basketball could impact his domestic minutes, but I think his ability to affect the game in multiple ways will separate himthe SLB.

If Jones becomes the engine behind another Championship-winning season while putting up the numbers his pedigree suggests, he’ll have a very strong MVP case.

Ed Percival Coach of the Year — Matthew Otten, Manchester Basketball

There’s something about Coach Otten that just oozes success. He’s got a quiet confidence about him that will raise Manchester Basketball’s ceiling once again.

Manchester reached two finals last season but came away empty-handed, and I think this year’s roster gives him the opportunity to take the organisation another step forward.

They’ve retained important pieces like Jordan Johnson and Kaiyem Cleary while adding experience with Luke Nelson, more depth and multiple players capable of creating offence.

The challenge for Otten will be putting all those pieces together while navigating the demands of European competition. If Manchester can push London at the top, manage that additional schedule and turn last season’s near misses into genuine title contention, Otten deserves plenty of credit.

Most Improved Player — Victor Ndoukou, Leicester Riders

Last season, Flynn Boardman-Raffet stole the show down the stretch, and we love to see young British talent thrive. I’ve got a feeling there could be a sequel in the Midlands this year, as Victor Ndoukou gets another full season of SLB experience under his belt.

He’s exactly the type of young British player I think this award should recognise — someone who has shown flashes and now has an opportunity to take a significant step forward. Ndoukouhas produced at the level below the SLB and continued developing through Leicester’s pathway, but now it’s about translating that into consistent production at the highest domestic level.

I’m not expecting him to suddenly become a 20-point scorer. Improvement can mean earning more minutes, becoming a reliable rotation piece and impacting winning.

Leicester have a history of developing young British talent, and I think Ndoukou could be next in line.

Defensive Player of the Year — Adam Hamilton, Newcastle Eagles

Selecting a Lion would be the easy way to go. However, the defensive intensity, attention to detail and determination I’ve seen from the Newcastle Eagles this preseason has me going in a different direction.

Adam Hamilton is my pick for Defensive Player of the Year, and this one is about pedigree and opportunity. An All-Defensive selection during his college career, he brings athleticism, rebounding and rim protection to Newcastle’s frontcourt. In preseason, he impressed me with his mobility at 6’9″ — essential in a league loaded with explosive guards.

The Eagles struggled defensively and on the glass last season, so his impact should be easy to measure if those numbers improve. Hamilton doesn’t need to lead the league in blocked shots. If he can protect the paint, finish possessions with rebounds and help transform Newcastle’s defensive identity, he’ll have a legitimate DPOY case.

Mike Tuck:

Most Valuable Player — Keenan Evans, London Lions

My MVP pick is Keenan Evans, mainly based on the level he has played at and the output he has produced throughout his career. He has experience with Žalgiris and Olympiacos in the EuroLeague and, if he is healthy, he could be one of the most talented guards we have seen in the SLB. The interesting part will be how much London use him domestically.

It looks like he has been brought in primarily to strengthen their EuroCup campaign, although I’m sure we will still see plenty of him in the SLB. He is on loan from Žalgiris and could potentially be called back, which adds another unknown. However, if Evans stays with London, plays enough domestic games and produces at the level we know he can, I think he has the strongest MVP case.

Ed Percival Coach of the Year — Tautvydas Sabonis, London Lions

I’ve gone with Tautvydas Sabonis, who is the reigning Coach of the Year after leading London to a 26–6 record in his first season as a head coach. London won the Championship and completed the domestic quadruple, so the question now is whether they can improve on an already dominant year.

To be honest, after watching what they have done in preseason, I could see them beating that 26-win total fairly comfortably. They have added even more quality, but managing a roster this deep will still be a challenge. Sabonis will need to keep everyone involved while balancing the SLB with a demanding EuroCup schedule. If London dominate domestically again while also competing at a high level in Europe, I think it will be very difficult to give the award to anyone else.

Most Improved Player — Matthew Nicholson, Manchester Basketball

My pick for Most Improved Player is Matthew Nicholson. Last season, he averaged 6.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while playing only 20.7 minutes per game. For a seven-footer in his first season with Manchester, those are really encouraging numbers. He also shot around 65% from the field, grabbed 2.4 offensive rebounds per game and appeared in all 32 Championship games.

I think the opportunity is there for him to take a big step forward this season. If his minutes increase and he becomes more assertive offensively, he has the potential to develop into one of the best centres in the league. Manchester will also be playing European basketball, which should accelerate his development. He doesn’t need a complete transformation—just a bigger role and continued improvement in the areas where he was already effective.

Defensive Player of the Year — William Lee, B. Braun Sheffield Sharks

My Defensive Player of the Year pick is William Lee. Last season, he led the league with 1.4 blocks per game while also averaging 7.1 rebounds and one steal in fewer than 23 minutes for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks. His length, athleticism and timing allow him to protect the rim, but he is also mobile enough to defend away from the basket when needed.

Lee is coming off an injury, so his health will obviously be important. However, we have seen this guy bounce back time and time again throughout his career. If he can stay healthy and play a slightly bigger role, I think his defensive impact will be clear. He finishes possessions with his rebounding, can switch onto different matchups and gives the Sharks a genuine shot-blocking presence inside. For me, he has all the tools to win the award.