NBL Awards Finalists: The Hits, The Misses, and the Biggest Snubs
February 9, 2025
Kouat Noi
- Nationality: SDN/AUS
- Date of Birth: 29/10/97
- Place of Birth: Khartoum (Sudan)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 93
- Junior Assoc: NSW - Newcastle
- College: Texas Christian University (2017–2019)
- NBL DEBUT: 4/10/19
- AGE AT DEBUT: 21
- LAST NBL GAME: 7/02/25
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 27
- NBL History: Cairns 2020-22 | Sydney 2023-26
- Championships: 2
- Sydney (2023)
BIO: Noi was born in Khartoum, Sudan during height of the Second Sudanese Civil War. His family fled the country amid escalations of the conflict, first to Egypt and later to Australia in 2002.
Growing up in Newcastle, he blossomed into a basketball star and would move to the United States to attend high school basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy (Florida).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Kouat Noi made his NBL debut with the Cairns Taipans at 21 years of age. He scored 10 points in his first game.
Noi delivered a strong debut season in 2019/20, averaging 10.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for the Taipans. His contributions helped Cairns secure third place with a 16-12 record, narrowly missing out on the league’s Rookie of the Year award. Noi finished five votes behind LaMelo Ball, who later progressed to the NBA.
2020/21
In 2020/21, Noi maintained solid numbers with averages of 10.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1 assist. He played an integral role in the Taipans’ rotation, though the team struggled, ending the season in ninth place with an 8-28 record. Injury concerns continued to impact Noi, as he managed only 40 games across his first two seasons out of a possible 67. His season ended prematurely after suffering a PCL injury against Sydney in round 10, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
2021/22
During the 2021/22 season, Noi averaged 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, once again contributing significantly to the Taipans’ lineup. Despite his efforts, Cairns finished in ninth place with a 9-19 record.
SYDNEY KINGS
2022/23
After their championship win, Sydney faced a significant roster overhaul, losing key imports Jaylen Adams, Jarrell Martin, and Ian Clark to overseas contracts. With core players Xavier Cooks, Dejan Vasiljevic, and Angus Glover continuing to develop, the Kings decided to build around their local talent, bringing in imports who could complement their Aussie core. They signed Derrick Walton Jr to fill Adams’ scoring role, Tim Soares (via Europe) for sharpshooting at center, and defensive standout Justin Simon (via Illawarra). Kouat Noi (via Cairns) joined to replace Makur Maker, who signed with the NBA’s Washington Wizards, while rookie Jackson Makoi added further depth.
Sydney began their title defense with a three-game winning streak, defeating Illawarra, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Their victory over Melbourne (91-71) was especially impressive, highlighted by a second-quarter surge where they held United to just six points while racking up 25 of their own, achieving a 15th consecutive road win and setting a new NBL record.
The Kings’ unbeaten start came to an end against the Cairns Taipans (83-78), with the Taipans capitalising on Sydney’s poor free-throw shooting (14/25) and a stout defensive performance. Shannon Scott (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Cairns, filling in admirably for the injured Tahjere McCall.
Following a bounce-back win over Brisbane, Sydney suffered another close defeat, this time at home to Adelaide (92-88). Adelaide’s Craig Randall II (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led all scorers, while a strong defensive stand in the final minute from Mitch McCarron secured the upset for the visitors.
In round five, Noi delivered a thrilling buzzer-beater to defeat his former team, Cairns (106-103), securing Sydney’s top spot on the ladder at 8-2. Cooks, who came close to a triple-double (18 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists), was instrumental in the win.
Next, Sydney defeated New Zealand in a clash of top-ranked teams (81-77) but lost Walton Jr to an ankle injury in the first half, where he scored 12 points in just 18 minutes. Cooks would later miss three games due to an ankle injury, which also kept him from playing in the Boomers’ World Cup Qualifier against Kazakhstan.
An epic buzzer-beater from Shaun Bruce edged out Illawarra in a close 83-82 win after the Hawks had held a four-point lead (82-78) with just 10 seconds remaining.
Despite returning Cooks from injury, Sydney’s road win streak came to an end at 17 games after Cairns, led by Keanu Pinder’s career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds, took an overtime victory (94-88). Cooks (25 points and 10 rebounds) provided a strong return but fouled out in the fourth quarter.
A double-overtime thriller against South East Melbourne saw Mitch Creek score 46 points and Derrick Walton Jr record 45 points, marking the first 40-point games of the season. Injuries to key players like Cooks (ankle) didn’t diminish the excitement of the contest, which the Kings lost (113-112), slipping to second on the ladder behind New Zealand.
With Coach Chase Buford suspended for poor conduct, assistant coach Kevin Lisch stepped in, guiding Sydney to a 97-77 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers, dominating in the paint with a season-high 69% field goal percentage.
Sydney solidified their position at the top with a historic 49-point rout over Brisbane (116-67), marking the largest win margin in the 40-minute era and the Kings’ biggest victory over the Bullets. Key contributions came from Cooks (20 points), Soares (20 points), and Walton Jr (18 points).
The Kings secured first place with a 19-9 record despite losing their final two regular-season games. Cooks (16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists) earned NBL MVP honours, surpassing Bryce Cotton of Perth and Mitch Creek from South East Melbourne. Noi finished the season with averages of 7.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.
After Cairns defeated Perth (91-78) in the play-in tournament, they faced Sydney in the semi-finals. Cooks’ dominant performance (27 points and 14 rebounds) propelled the Kings to a game one victory (95-87). However, Cairns won game two (93-82) after DJ Hogg (25 points and 8 rebounds) and Tahjere McCall (20 points and 7 assists) rallied, forcing a decisive game three. Sydney responded with a strong team performance in game three (79-64) with Vasiljevic (15 points and 5 rebounds) leading the way, while Cooks and Noi both posted double-doubles (11 points, 11 rebounds) to secure their place in the championship series.
New Zealand eliminated Tasmania to set up the grand final with Sydney and stunned the Kings in game one, winning (95-87) in front of over 13,000 fans. Game two saw Sydney level the series despite limited minutes from Walton Jr and Cooks. Simon (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 steals) and Noi (20 points off the bench) stepped up, with Noi’s contributions earning high praise.
The bench came in, and Noi balled out 👑
With no Cooks or Walton Jr, King Kouat dropped 20 in game two to help lead the @sydneykings to a monster win in enemy territory 🎯 pic.twitter.com/xczOSBnEbV— NBL (@NBL) March 7, 2023
Sydney took game three in front of a record 18,049 fans at Qudos Bank Arena, with Walton Jr (12 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds) leading the charge. New Zealand took game four in Auckland (80-70), forcing a deciding game five.
The Kings clinched back-to-back titles with a 77-69 win in front of a record 18,124 fans. Walton Jr (21 points, 6 assists) claimed Championship Series MVP honours, while Cooks (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Brown Jr (22 points) led New Zealand. The 67,811 total attendance marked the largest ever for an NBL Championship Series.
It was the last game of the season, and it delivered all sorts of drama.
Re-live the best bits thanks to @HungryJacksAU ⤵ pic.twitter.com/KxOiNZnVDW— NBL (@NBL) March 15, 2023
2023/24
Sydney underwent a substantial rebuild ahead of NBL24 after losing several key players to NBA opportunities. Reigning NBL MVP Xavier Cooks and DJ Vasiljevic both signed with the Washington Wizards, while Coach Chase Buford left for the NBA and eventually joined Milwaukee. Imports Derrick Walton Jr, Justin Simon, and Tim Soares also moved overseas, leaving Jordan Hunter as the only returning starter from their championship roster.
Former league MVP Jaylen Adams rejoined the Kings after a season in Europe, teaming up with new imports DJ Hogg (from Cairns), Denzel Valentine, and Australian Boomer Jonah Bolden, who made his comeback to basketball after a four-year break. G-League championship coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah was appointed as Buford’s replacement, and despite the major roster overhaul, Sydney still entered the season as a title contender.
After their first ten games, Sydney held second place with a 7-3 record, with losses coming only from the Tasmania JackJumpers (twice) and the Cairns Taipans. This strong start was achieved even while key player DJ Hogg (who missed part of the season’s opening) and Jaylin Galloway were sidelined due to injuries.
However, from Round 8 onward, the Kings struggled to recapture the form that had made them league leaders in prior seasons. Defensive weaknesses became apparent, with Sydney conceding 100 points on nine occasions, leading them to finish among the league’s poorest defensive teams.
The team’s offensive strength largely stemmed from the pick-and-roll combination between Adams (19.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals) and Hunter (10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks). Bolden (8.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists) had flashes of strong performances but spent much of the season readjusting to competitive play. Valentine (12.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) and DJ Hogg (14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks) had more mixed contributions, unable to meet the full expectations at both ends of the court. Sydney closed the season in fifth place, missing the postseason after falling to New Zealand in the play-in qualifiers. However, promising seasons from rookie Alex Toohey (8 points and 4.0 rebounds), Kouat Noi (10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists), who was a close contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award, and Galloway (10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) were among the season’s few highlights, showcasing the depth of individual talent on the team.
Noi’s standout performances included scoring 23 points and grabbing 4 rebounds in a win over Illawarra (96-81) in September and his sharp shooting night in a loss to New Zealand (101-109), where he went 7-12 from the field, including 4-5 from three-point range, finishing with 19 points and 4 rebounds in just 16 minutes of play.
Kouat Noi currently plays for the Sydney Kings and has played 181 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists since entering the league in 2019.
CURRENT CONTRACT:
Sydney Kings – 2 Year Deal (2026-28)
2nd Year Mutual Option
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 28 | Sydney | 24-9 (1) | 39 | 504.1 | 389 | 144 | 29 | 102 | 42 | 21 | 6 | 24 | 44 | 136 | 326 | 42% | 57 | 179 | 32% | 60 | 75 | 80% | 54% | 50% | 29 |
| 2024-25 | 27 | Sydney | 16-13 (5) | 27 | 551.1 | 398 | 84 | 14 | 63 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 23 | 47 | 124 | 281 | 44% | 62 | 156 | 40% | 88 | 99 | 89% | 61% | 55% | 32 |
| 2023-24 | 26 | Sydney | 13-15 (5) | 25 | 459.7 | 251 | 113 | 25 | 30 | 83 | 11 | 2 | 31 | 37 | 85 | 185 | 46% | 29 | 82 | 35% | 52 | 63 | 83% | 58% | 54% | 23 |
| 2022-23 | 25 | Sydney | 19-9 (1) | 34 | 590.2 | 272 | 126 | 21 | 26 | 100 | 17 | 3 | 37 | 61 | 93 | 202 | 46% | 30 | 82 | 37% | 56 | 71 | 79% | 58% | 53% | 20 |
| 2021-22 | 24 | Cairns | 9-19 (9) | 16 | 364.6 | 135 | 74 | 13 | 14 | 60 | 13 | 4 | 23 | 21 | 46 | 117 | 39% | 18 | 53 | 34% | 25 | 35 | 71% | 51% | 47% | 19 |
| 2020-21 | 23 | Cairns | 8-28 (9) | 18 | 434.1 | 181 | 80 | 19 | 13 | 67 | 15 | 8 | 30 | 24 | 62 | 161 | 39% | 25 | 76 | 33% | 32 | 37 | 86% | 51% | 46% | 27 |
| 2019-20 | 22 | Cairns | 16-12 (3) | 22 | 516.2 | 209 | 127 | 24 | 37 | 90 | 14 | 5 | 37 | 44 | 76 | 182 | 42% | 26 | 76 | 34% | 31 | 46 | 67% | 51% | 49% | 22 | Totals | 181 | 3420 | 1835 | 748 | 145 | 285 | 463 | 106 | 34 | 205 | 278 | 622 | 1454 | 42.8% | 247 | 704 | 35.1% | 344 | 426 | 80.8% | 56% | 51% | 32 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 28 | Sydney | 24-9 (1) | 39 | 12.9 | 10.0 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 8.4 | 42% | 1.5 | 4.6 | 32% | 1.5 | 1.9 | 80% | 54% | 50% | 29 |
| 2024-25 | 27 | Sydney | 16-13 (5) | 27 | 20.4 | 14.7 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 10.4 | 44% | 2.3 | 5.8 | 40% | 3.3 | 3.7 | 89% | 61% | 55% | 32 |
| 2023-24 | 26 | Sydney | 13-15 (5) | 25 | 18.4 | 10.0 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 7.4 | 46% | 1.2 | 3.3 | 35% | 2.1 | 2.5 | 83% | 58% | 54% | 23 |
| 2022-23 | 25 | Sydney | 19-9 (1) | 34 | 17.4 | 8.0 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 5.9 | 46% | 0.9 | 2.4 | 37% | 1.6 | 2.1 | 79% | 58% | 53% | 20 |
| 2021-22 | 24 | Cairns | 9-19 (9) | 16 | 22.8 | 8.4 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 7.3 | 39% | 1.1 | 3.3 | 34% | 1.6 | 2.2 | 71% | 51% | 47% | 19 |
| 2020-21 | 23 | Cairns | 8-28 (9) | 18 | 24.1 | 10.1 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 8.9 | 39% | 1.4 | 4.2 | 33% | 1.8 | 2.1 | 86% | 51% | 46% | 27 |
| 2019-20 | 22 | Cairns | 16-12 (3) | 22 | 23.5 | 9.5 | 5.8 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 8.3 | 42% | 1.2 | 3.5 | 34% | 1.4 | 2.1 | 67% | 51% | 49% | 22 | Total | 181 | 18.9 | 10.1 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 8.0 | 42.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.1% | 1.4 | 3.9 | 80.8% | 56% | 51% | 32 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 32 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Newcastle (2014), USC Rip City (2022–2023), Darwin (2024), Sutherland (2025), Sydney (2025)
Noi joined Newcastle for the 2014 Waratah League season, featuring as a teenager with the Newcastle Hunters before departing later that year.
Noi joined USC Rip City for the 2022 NBL1 North season and delivered a major season, averaging 25.88 points, 13.0 rebounds, 1.65 assists and 1.41 steals across 13 games as Rip City finished third, with his year bringing the NBL1 North Most Valuable Player award and All-Star Five selection. He led USC Rip City into the NBL1 North Grand Final series, with the club reaching the decider after finals wins over Darwin and Cairns, before finishing runner-up to Gold Coast after losses in Game 1 and Game 2.
Noi returned to USC Rip City for the 2023 NBL1 North season and again earned NBL1 North First Team honours after averaging 26.0 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. His return game produced 34 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a one-point loss to Northside, and one of his biggest performances that year came with 42 points in a 101–81 win over North Gold Coast.
Noi joined Darwin for the 2024 NBL1 North season after signing with the Salties on 18 March 2024 and again made the NBL1 North First Team. He averaged 21.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists for a Darwin team that finished second at 13–4 and reached the semi-finals, and his stronger individual outings included 35 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals against Cairns, 29 points and seven rebounds against Logan, and 28 points in a road win over Rockhampton.
Noi joined Sutherland for the 2025 NBL1 East season after signing with the Sharks on 7 April 2025 and he averaged 19.32 points, 6.84 rebounds and 2.58 assists while finishing as an MVP finalist. His best scoring games included 40 points against Newcastle, 34 points against Sydney, and 26 points with 12 rebounds in the regular-season win over Bankstown that helped secure an 11–9 finish and a finals berth from eighth place.
In the 2025 finals, Sutherland beat Bankstown 89–84 in an elimination final and then advanced again by defeating Sydney in the semi-finals (86-82), Noi producing a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds in the effort, before falling 84–76 to Canberra in the preliminary final, with Noi posting 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in that last game.
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Noi averaged 9.1 points and 4.3 rebounds while helping lead Australia to a silver medal at the 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Dubai.
NBA EXPERIENCE
Attended workouts this year with multiple NBA teams before injuring his hand in 2019.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- China - Ningbo (2025)
In 2025, Kouat Noi spent the offseason playing in China with the Ningbo Rockets, finishing the 2024–25 season in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
He made an immediate impact in his debut, delivering 28 points and 8 rebounds.
Across 11 games with Ningbo, Noi averaged (18.0 points, 4.27 rebounds, and 2.45 assists) before returning to Australia to compete in NBL1.
COLLEGE
Kouat Noi played two seasons at Texas Christian University from 2017–18 to 2018–19, emerging as one of the program’s primary perimeter scoring options while developing into an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection.
As a redshirt freshman in 2017–18, Noi played in all 33 games and made nine starts while averaging 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures 18 times and producing a season-high 19 points against Oklahoma State on February 17, 2018.
Noi’s shooting was a defining feature of that first active season, as he ranked fourth in the Big 12 in three-point percentage at 43.4 percent and finished tied with Desmond Bane for a team-best 59 made three-pointers, with at least one made three in 17 of the final 18 games and a season-high four three-pointers on three occasions.
He elevated again as a sophomore in 2018–19, playing in 31 games with 19 starts and averaging 13.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, with 23 double-figure scoring games, six 20-point games, and 2.4 made threes per game to rank second in the Big 12 while also sitting ninth in the league in scoring average.
Noi’s signature performance at TCU came at No. 23 Oklahoma on January 12, 2019, when he scored 30 points and hit eight three-pointers, and he later tied the program’s postseason single-game record with six made threes against Creighton on March 26, 2019, while also earning Big 12 Player of the Week honours on January 28 after averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in a 2–0 week.
After the 2018–19 season, Noi announced in April 2019 that he would leave TCU, closing his Horned Frogs career after two active seasons in Fort Worth.
Related
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