# NBL Best Defensive Player Award

National Basketball League awards and honors :
Championship :
Dr John Raschke Trophy :
Individual awards :
Most Valuable Player
Fans MVP
Best Sixth Man
Next Generation
Good Hands (defunct)
Rookie of the Year (defunct)
Grand Final MVP
Best Defensive Player
Most Improved Player
Coach of the Year
Most Efficient Player (defunct) :
Honours :
All-NBL Team
Scoring champion :
vte :
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 | Australia | West Adelaide Bearcats |
| 1981 | Ray Wood (2) | Australia | West Adelaide Bearcats |
| 1982 | Phil Smyth | Australia | St. Kilda Saints |
| 1983 | Phil Smyth (2) | Australia | 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 | United States | Brisbane Bullets |
| 1988 | Phil Smyth (3) | Australia | Canberra Cannons |
| 1989 | Phil Smyth (4) | Australia | Canberra Cannons |
| 1990 | Leroy Loggins (2) | United States | Brisbane Bullets |
| 1991 | Terry Dozier | United States | Geelong Supercats |
| 1992 | Terry Dozier (2) | United States | Newcastle Falcons |
| 1993 | Terry Dozier (3) | United States | Newcastle Falcons |
| 1994 | Darren Lucas | Australia | South East Melbourne Magic |
| 1995 | Darren Lucas (2) | Australia | South East Melbourne Magic |
| 1996 | Isaac Burton | United States | Sydney Kings |
| 1997 | Mike Kelly | United States | South East Melbourne Magic |
| 1998 | Mike Kelly (2) | United States | South East Melbourne Magic |
| 1998–99 | Darnell Mee | United States | Adelaide 36ers |
| 1999–2000 | Darnell Mee (2) | United States | Adelaide 36ers |
| 2000–01 | Darnell Mee (3) | United States | Adelaide 36ers |
| 2001–02 | Simon Dwight | Australia | West Sydney Razorbacks |
| 2002–03 | Glen Saville | Australia | Wollongong Hawks |
| 2003–04 | Ben Castle | Australia | Brisbane Bullets |
| 2004–05 | Darnell Mee (4) | United States | Wollongong Hawks |
| 2005–06 | Darnell Mee (5) | United States | Cairns Taipans |
| 2006–07 | Sam Mackinnon | Australia | Brisbane Bullets |
| 2007–08 | Chris Anstey | Australia | Melbourne Tigers |
| 2008–09 | Adam Gibson | Australia | South Dragons |
| 2009–10 | Dillon Boucher | New Zealand | New Zealand Breakers |
| 2010–11 | Damian Martin | Australia | Perth Wildcats |
| 2011–12 | Damian Martin (2) | Australia | Perth Wildcats |
| 2012–13 | Damian Martin (3) | Australia | Perth Wildcats |
| 2013–14 | Damian Martin (4) | Australia | Perth Wildcats |
| 2014–15 | Damian Martin (5) | Australia | Perth Wildcats |
| 2015–16 | Kevin Lisch | United States | Illawarra Hawks |
| 2016–17 | Torrey Craig | United States | Brisbane Bullets |
| 2017–18 | Damian Martin (6) | Australia | Perth Wildcats |
| 2018–19 | Andrew Bogut | Australia | Sydney Kings |
| 2019–20 | D. J. Newbill | United States | Cairns Taipans |
| 2020–21 | Justin Simon | United States | Illawarra Hawks |
| 2021–22 | Antonius Cleveland | United States | Illawarra Hawks |
| 2022–23 | Antonius Cleveland (2) | United States | Adelaide 36ers |
| 2023–24 | Shea Ili | New Zealand | Melbourne United |
| 2024–25 | Shea Ili (2) | New Zealand | Melbourne United |