Williams NBL's MVP

Townsville superstar Corey Williams has capped off a brilliant season by being named the 2009/10 NBL Most Valuable Player at the competition's awards dinner in Melbourne on Friday night.

It was Williams' first Andrew Gaze Trophy and he becomes only the second Crocodile to win it after Robert Rose in 2000/2001.

Williams polled 92 votes, 12 ahead of Adelaide forward Adam Ballinger (80) and 20 in front of Melbourne co-captain Mark Worthington (72).

One-time favourite Tywain McKee (70) finished fourth but back stress fractures diagnosed in Round 15 robbed the Wollongong import of any realistic chance of winning the award.

Williams was simply outstanding this campaign, leading all scorers with 571 points at an average of 18.4 a game and shooting at a percentage of 50.6 from the field.

He was also second in the competition for assists with 121 at 4.1, fourth for steals with 37 at 1.2 and averaged five rebounds a match too.

And the honours didn't stop there for Williams as he also earned a spot in the All-NBL first team alongside Kirk Penney (New Zealand), McKee, Worthington and Shawn Redhage (Perth).

But the fairytale story of the night belonged to Gordie McLeod who was named the coach of the season after taking the Wollongong Hawks from the brink of extinction last year to a grand final series this year that went the distance against Perth.

In other awards, Breakers veteran Dillon Boucher was named the best defensive player, Gold Coast big man Anthony Petrie was adjudged the most improved player, Wildcats power forward won the rookie of the year, Gold Coast import Erron Maxey clinched the best sixth man award and Michael Aylen took out the referee of the year gong.