Josh Byrne named MVP of 2024 NLL season

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Ahead of Friday night's Game 1 of the NLL Finals between the Bandits and Albany FireWolves, the National Lacrosse League had some hardware to hand out for Buffalo forward Josh Byrne.

Byrne was announced on Friday as the league's Most Valuable Player for the 2024 season after leading the league in regular season scoring with 135 points (53+82) in 18 games played.

It is the first time in Byrne's career he has received such recognition by the NLL. He becomes the fourth Bandits player in franchise history to earn NLL MVP honors, joining teammate Dhane Smith (2), current head coach John Tavares (3) and current general manager Steve Dietrich.

Smith was also named a finalist for league MVP this season after finishing right behind Byrne in scoring with 134 points, and becoming the first player in league history to register 100 assists in a single season.

Byrne was a former first overall selection of the Bandits in the 2017 NLL Draft. In his 89 career games with the Bandits, the 30-year-old has scored 201 goals and picked up 286 assists for 487 points.

In the postseason, Byrne has also racked up 40 goals and 58 assists for 98 points in 17 games played with the Bandits, while helping lead Buffalo to a NLL championship in 2023.

This postseason, Byrne is currently in a tie for second place in league scoring with 17 points (8+9) in just three playoffs contests.

In addition to winning league MVP honors in 2024, Byrne was also named the NLL Offensive Player of the Year, and was also named a First-Team All-NLL member.

Game 1 of the NLL Finals on Friday will take place from MVP Arena in Albany with a 7 p.m. ET faceoff. Game 2 of the NLL Finals will be back in Buffalo at KeyBank Center for a 7:30 p.m. ET faceoff.

You can catch all the Bandits lacrosse action on WGR Sports Radio 550 with John Gurtler, Steve Bermel and Dave Buchanan on the call.