BUFFALO, N.Y. — After leading the National Lacrosse League in points, Buffalo Bandits forward Josh Byrne is picking up the league's highest honor.
Byrne was named the NLL's Most Valuable Player on Friday, earning the first MVP award for the first time in his career.
The Bandits forward paced the NLL with 135 points on the season, just one point ahead of teammate Dhane Smith, who won MVP in 2022.. The New Westminster, British Columbia-native finished third in the NLL in goals with 53 and second in assists with 82.
Byrne's MVP award comes on the heels of winning the league's Offensive Player of the Year honor on Thursday, and is in addition to being named to the All-NLL First Team.
Smith and transition Ian McKay earned second team honors for Buffalo.
"It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. I feel like for a little bit a lot of pressure on myself and now he's stepped into a superstar," Smith said of Byrne.
Smith went on to add: "He's always been one. He got drafted first overall for a reason. I feel like I had to push him to get to the point he is now. We go as far as not only Josh and I, but our whole team at the end of the day. ... Yes, Josh and I put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be successful, and we need to be successful in and out every game. But that being said, we need a full team effort to kind of win a championship."
Byrne, Smith, McKay, and the rest of the Bandits are making their fourth straight NLL Finals appearance this weekend as Buffalo takes on Albany in the championship round. The Bandits are looking to capture their second straight championship after winning in the finals last season over the Colorado Mammoth.