Samsung's Kerem Kanter Named Round 1 MVP in Pro Basketball

Kerem Kanter of the Seoul Samsung Thunders has been selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the first round of the 2026-2027 professional basketball season.

The KBL announced on November 3 that Kanter received 85 out of 101 valid votes in the press corps ballot, earning the first round MVP honors of his career.

This marks the first time in nine seasons that a Samsung player has been named round MVP, following Ricardo Ratliffe (now known as Ra Guna) in the second round of the 2017-2018 season.

Kanter played in all nine games of the first round, averaging 36 minutes and 49 seconds, 26.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, leading Samsung to an undefeated first round.

Kanter will receive a commemorative trophy and a prize of 2 million won.

(Photo courtesy of KBL, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.