Mandurah Magic's Joel Murray crowned NBL1 West MVP

Mandurah Magic's Joel Murray has been crowned the 2024 NBL1 West MVP.

The American import joined the Magic at the start of the season averaging a huge 34.3 points per game.

Murray also went on to have four 40-plus point games and two 50-plus point games during the season.

He helped steer the Magic from a 2-20 record in 2023 to a fourth-placed finish in 2024.

Mandurah coach Mark Utley said at no surprise he also took out the club's MVP award on Sunday night.

"Really amazing story, he came out here looking for opportunity and he's done everything in his power to show the talent that he's got," he said.

"I think there's a lot of players around the league that'll be telling people in the future that they played against this guy called Joel Murray."  

The Magic will play defending champions the Geraldton Buccaneers in a qualifying final on Saturday after beating the Willetton Tigers in their last regular game of the season.

Utley said the victory gives them two chances in the finals.

"This week we go to Geraldton with a free hit at a top team and if we win that we're through to the preliminary, we lose that we come back to a massive home final with a lot of people there to get us across the line," he said.