The Breakers might be the best team in the Australian National Basketball League but it counted for little as they were overlooked for most of the major gongs at the annual awards dinner in Melbourne last night.
Andrej Lemanis won Coach of the Year, the first time he's achieved the feat in his seven years in charge, but none of the players were recognised for individual accolades.
American import Cedric Jackson, who was fourth in voting for league MVP, made the All-ANBL First Team along with Tom Abercrombie, and Gary Wilkinson was named in the Second Team.
Alex Pledger was second in the voting for the Best Sixth Man and was also fourth equal in the Most Improve Player category, while Mika Vukona was second behind Perth's Damian Martin in Best Defensive Player.
Perth players won three of the six individual awards but, as the Breakers would say, the only prize they're after is the defence of their ANBL title.
They continue that quest when they host Townsville in the first game of the playoffs at a sold out Vector Arena on Friday night.
Australian NBL award winners
MVP: Kevin Lisch (Perth Wildcats).
Coach of the Year: Andrej Lemanis (NZ Breakers).
Rookie of the Year: Anatoly Bose (Sydney Kings)
Most Improved Player: Daniel Johnson (Adelaide 36ers)
Best Defensive Player: Damian Martin (Perth Wildcats)
Best Sixth Man: Jesse Wagstaff (Perth Wildcats)
Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen
