DUSTY Rychart certainly doesn't rate it as his best NBL season during his eight-year stint in Australia.

The now-naturalised Australian and Taipans forward claimed an "unexpected" MVP gong at the NBL club’s presentation ball on Saturday night but said he would treasure the award from the franchise he hopes to continue to call home.

Pictures: Cairns Taipans 2009-10

Rychart may not have rated his 2009-10 season particularly highly but his consistency impressed Snakes officials and head coach Aaron Fearne, who crowned him the top Taipan.

"He’s definitely very consistent in all aspects – training, the weight room, on court – he does what Dusty’s done in his career in Australia," Fearne said.

"He finished the year off extremely well and he battled from day one to the end."

Rychart finished among the NBL’s best contributors for shooting percentage, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and total rebounds, and was the Taipans’ top rebounder and second-best scorer.

"He really does appreciate and understand the opportunity he’s got," Fearne said of the former University of Minnesota graduate.

Rychart, who has been a crucial link in several NBL teams since arriving in Australia in 2002, said he was delighted to have won his first team MVP award.

"It’s kind of ironic. I didn’t think I had that good of a year," Rychart said.

"This year, there were patches where I’ve been inconsistent and that’s not how I’ve been in my eight years in the league.

"But it’s something I’m very proud of and I’ll remember for the rest of my life."

Fearne said it had been tough to split Rychart, Skip Mills and captain Phill Jones for MVP.

Mills claimed the coach’s award – a prize given as much for the intangibles a player brings to the team as his statistics on the court.

"In a way it’s a bit of a definition of being a pro," Fearne said of the award.

"He obviously takes fantastic care of his body and is very professional in the way he prepares off court. On court, he was in (to practice) early, he stayed back late and that’s what he did consistently over the year to prepare."

Aaron Grabau won his fourth defensive player-of-the-year award – extending his record to three in a row after becoming the first player to take the gong back-to-back last year.

Dwayne Vale won the new commitment to community award for his dedication to promotional work including basketball clinics and visits.

Game-night co-ordinator Cate Mahoney was named clubperson of the year.