The National Basketball League Best Defensive Player is an annual National Basketball League (NBL) award given since the 1980 NBL season to the best defensive player of the regular season. As of the 2023–24 season, the head coach, assistant coach and captain of each team vote for the Defensive Player of the Year. Voters are not allowed to vote for players from their own team. The winner receives the Damian Martin Trophy, which was named in honour of Damian Martin who won the award six times.
Winners Year Player Nationality Team 1980 Ray Wood West Adelaide Bearcats 1981 Ray Wood (2) West Adelaide Bearcats 1982 Phil Smyth St. Kilda Saints 1983 Phil Smyth (2) Canberra Cannons 1984 N/A N/A N/A 1985 N/A N/A N/A 1986 N/A N/A N/A 1987 Leroy Loggins Brisbane Bullets 1988 Phil Smyth (3) Canberra Cannons 1989 Phil Smyth (4) Canberra Cannons 1990 Leroy Loggins (2) Brisbane Bullets 1991 Terry Dozier Geelong Supercats 1992 Terry Dozier (2) Newcastle Falcons 1993 Terry Dozier (3) Newcastle Falcons 1994 Darren Lucas South East Melbourne Magic 1995 Darren Lucas (2) South East Melbourne Magic 1996 Isaac Burton Sydney Kings 1997 Mike Kelly South East Melbourne Magic 1998 Mike Kelly (2) South East Melbourne Magic 1998–99 Darnell Mee Adelaide 36ers 1999–2000 Darnell Mee (2) Adelaide 36ers 2000–01 Darnell Mee (3) Adelaide 36ers 2001–02 Simon Dwight West Sydney Razorbacks 2002–03 Glen Saville Wollongong Hawks 2003–04 Ben Castle Brisbane Bullets 2004–05 Darnell Mee (4) Wollongong Hawks 2005–06 Darnell Mee (5) Cairns Taipans 2006–07 Sam Mackinnon Brisbane Bullets 2007–08 Chris Anstey Melbourne Tigers 2008–09 Adam Gibson South Dragons 2009–10 Dillon Boucher New Zealand Breakers 2010–11 Damian Martin Perth Wildcats 2011–12 Damian Martin (2) Perth Wildcats 2012–13 Damian Martin (3) Perth Wildcats 2013–14 Damian Martin (4) Perth Wildcats 2014–15 Damian Martin (5) Perth Wildcats 2015–16 Kevin Lisch Illawarra Hawks 2016–17 Torrey Craig Brisbane Bullets 2017–18 Damian Martin (6) Perth Wildcats 2018–19 Andrew Bogut Sydney Kings 2019–20 D. J. Newbill Cairns Taipans 2020–21 Justin Simon Illawarra Hawks 2021–22 Antonius Cleveland Illawarra Hawks 2022–23 Antonius Cleveland (2) Adelaide 36ers 2023–24 Shea Ili Melbourne United 2024–25 Shea Ili (2) Melbourne United 2025–26 John Brown South East Melbourne Phoenix
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