It’s a rivalry that has been building since Kendric Davis arrived in the league last season, and Wednesday night’s Game Four of the NBL Championship Series shapes as the latest chapter in one of the most compelling head-to-head battles the competition has seen in years.
Despite Bryce Cotton insisting there is “no rivalry”, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore what is unfolding on the court.
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The two stars have gone blow-for-blow, with several confrontations along the way. Many of those moments have been sparked by Kendric Davis, but Bryce Cotton, who has set the standard in this league for years, has consistently shown he is more than willing to respond when challenged.
The foundations of this matchup were laid last season, when a 25-year-old Davis arrived in the NBL for the first time.
Davis delivered an outstanding debut campaign with the Adelaide 36ers, averaging 25.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists while shooting 47.8% from the field. It was a remarkable first season, one rarely matched by a newcomer.
He recorded eight double-doubles and produced multiple 30-point performances. Despite his individual brilliance, the 36ers were unable to progress beyond the Play-In, falling to the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Still, Davis finished with 82 MVP votes, behind Cotton’s 119, a result that marked the beginning of what has become a genuine rivalry.
After that season, Davis, now 26, headed east to join the Kings, surrounding himself with experience in the form of Brian Goorjian and Matthew Dellavedova. His start in Sydney mirrored the team’s early struggles, but as the season progressed, both Davis and the Kings found their rhythm.
In 33 regular season appearances, Davis averaged 24.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists, shooting 47.5% from the field. While his numbers dipped slightly, his role evolved within a stronger roster, playing nearly four fewer minutes per game compared to his time in Adelaide.
He still delivered standout moments, posting 11 games with 30 points or more, including a career-high 40 against the Tasmania JackJumpers on January 22. The Kings finished the regular season on top with a 24-9 record, placing Davis firmly in the MVP conversation once again.
Cotton, now 33, had already cemented his legacy during his time with the Perth Wildcats, where he spent nine seasons, winning three championships, five MVP awards, two Finals MVPs and nine scoring titles.
Remarkably, his final season in Perth was arguably his best, averaging 28.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists and scoring a career-high 59 points against the New Zealand Breakers.
His move to Adelaide on a three-year deal was one of the biggest signings in league history, and he wasted no time making an impact. Cotton averaged 25.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and a career-high 7.6 assists, once again putting together an MVP-calibre season.
As awards night approached, the debate intensified. Cotton versus Davis. Individual brilliance versus team success. The Kings had beaten the 36ers 3-1 during the season series, with Cotton averaging just 16.3 points in those games, well below his usual output.
Davis, meanwhile, thrived against his former team, averaging 23.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists.
When the votes were counted, Cotton claimed his sixth MVP with 96 votes, just edging Davis, who finished on 94. It was one of the closest races in recent memory and a clear signal that the next generation is closing in, even if Cotton remains the benchmark.
Later that night, Davis took to Instagram Live, clearly frustrated after falling short again.
Kendric Davis lashes out after MVP snub | 00:43
“They got John Casey. I love John Casey but John Casey on this, like c’mon bro,” Davis said.
“Let’s see who voted for who. So we know what is going on like the NBA.
“All I know is you put my stats up against his stats and take our faces off, and tell the NBA to vote on who should win MVP, I guarantee I come out on top.
“They didn’t want me to win it from the get go. They didn’t want me to win MVP from the get go. Trust me.
“Why do you think at the beginning of the year all they did was post, the NBL post said I’m a bad teammate and all this and that.”
The following morning, Cotton was asked about the comments, but stayed composed.
“I was too busy paying for everybody’s drinks, so I didn’t catch everything that was said. Sorry about that,” he said.
Davis later shifted his focus back to the bigger picture.
“Just win something that they can’t vote on … that’s how I look at it,” he said.
“Just win a Championship … that’s all that matters … If you asked Bryce, ‘would he trade that MVP for a Championship?’ I think everybody would agree they would.”
That frustration carried into the Championship Series.
Game Two of the NBL Championship Series produced one of the most memorable moments in NBL history. Cotton hit a dramatic game-winner to seal a 91-89 victory, and emotions quickly boiled over. As Cotton celebrated, Davis approached him, holding up three fingers, a clear reference to what it takes to win the series. The pair went face-to-face in a heated exchange that quickly went global.
Cotton wins G2 on final buzzer | 01:06
Game Three told a different story. Davis responded with the best performance of his career, finishing with 34 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers in a dominant Kings win. In the aftermath, he clapped in Cotton’s direction as he walked away, a moment that drew mixed reactions but added further edge to the contest.
Cotton, as always, showed little outward emotion, laughing it off, but his competitive nature suggests he will not have forgotten.
So, is this truly a rivalry?
According to 2018 NBL Champion and commentator Peter Hooley, it is.
“I think the rivalry is real for sure, because you have two of the ultimate competitors trying to get past the other to win a championship,” Hooley said.
“We also see two very different personalities, which is probably why it feels one-sided as you say.
“Bryce has always been someone who does his damage on the court and leaves it at that, which is pretty crazy when you think how many people try to rough him up and get under his skin to find any advantage over the great one. Whereas Kendric isn’t afraid to yap away and when you play like he did in Game 3, it’s very impressive. He was barking after they lost and he was barking after they won, so he’s true to himself.
“I love the theatre of it all. Does Cotton truly love this? Well they’re down in the series, so I doubt it. But if they come back and win, and this trash talking is what fires him and his team up, then he would probably say Thanks Kendric.
“In the end, as Cotton perfectly said following Game 2, this is how they grew up playing in America. And I think that’s spot on and not something most of us can relate to here in Australia. Is there a line, respect wise, that shouldn’t be crossed? Absolutely. And I hope when all this is said and done that respect can be mutual for an epic battle.”
2001 NBL champion Damon Lowery shares a similar view, but in Lowery fashion, frames it his way.
“Nobody has ever challenged the title of greatest player in the league … it’s a league wide consensus that Bryce Cotton is the greatest player in the NBL,” he said.
“Bryce has humbly accepted that consensus, Kendric vehemently disagrees with that.
“KD feels he’s better than Bryce and he’s not only out to let the league know, he’s letting Bryce know.
“Bryce said he’s never had a rivalry, well he’s got one now whether he wants it or not.
“KD won’t rest until he’s on top which means Bryce has to fall, and what better way to do it than in the championship series.
“Bryce is Sonny Liston, an elder statesman, feared heavyweight champ of the world, KD is a young Cassius Clay, a brash supremely confident young fighter, who’s destined for greatness.
“KD is going for a knockout.”
Whether Cotton sees it that way or not, the tension is real.
Game Four now looms as the next chapter, and perhaps the most telling one yet.