Prewster wins MVP award
Wellington Saints star Dion Prewster has won the Stuff MVP award as the best player in the Sal’s National Basketball League.
The 31-year-old Tall Blacks guard also scooped the defensive player of the year award in the league’s 40th season.
Prewster – who has played in the Australian NBL for the Breakers and the Sydney Kings – was named in the All Star Five with his Saints teammate Taane Samuel, the Otago Nuggets’ Breakers recruit Sam Timmins, Southland Sharks forward Dom Kelman-Poto and the Nelson Giants’ electric American guard Hunter Hale.
He also received the Keith Carr Trophy for most outstanding guard and the John Macdonald Trophy for the most outstanding New Zealand guard.
Prewster took a break in 2020 after the Covid-19 lockdown and hit the 2021 NBL season looking fit and refreshed.
He has been a revelation in Saints’ 16-2 charge to the top of the regular season standings.
‘‘ Dion still feels he has more he’d like to accomplish in his career,’’ Saints coach Zico Coronel told Stuff in May.
‘‘When he played in the ANBL last time for Sydney [2015-17] he was perceived as a defensive player … he’s still
very good defensively, but has grown so much as an offensive player since then. He’s very keen to get an opportunity to show he’s not the same player the Australians believed he was last time, and has dedicated himself to that.’’
Timmins, 24, was the other big winner in the NBL prize list with four awards and an All Star Five selection.
The former University of Washington power forward/centre picked up the most improved player award and the rebounds per game prize with a 13.9rpg average.