yogee
Years ago
Mee gets defensive again
NBL press release :
Interesting to note the only other player to win this award 4 times is Phil Smyth
Wollongong Hawks guard Darnell Mee has nabbed Best Defensive Player honours for the 2004/05 Philips Championship season, in the process becoming just the second player in National Basketball League (NBL) history to win the award four times.
Mee previously won the award as the best defender in the Philips Championship in 1999, 2000 and 2001 during his highly successful stint with the Adelaide 36ers. He was also runner-up in the 1998 NBL Best Defensive Player award.
Mee was named the winner of the 2005 award after receiving 65 votes, placing him well ahead of Sydney Kings star Jason Smith in second place with 39 votes. Smith and Mee are both currently competing for the NBL title on opposite teams as part of the 2005 Philips Championship Grand Final series. Perth's Rosell Ellis came third in the voting for this season's defensive honours with 18 votes.
The 198cm American joins Hall of Famer Phil Smyth as the only player ever to have taken out the league's prestigious defensive award four times.
Mee has been the pivotal figure in Wollongong's stifling defence all season and has helped the Hawks become the league's toughest defensive team. Wollongong allowed their opposition to score a league-low of just 94 points per game in 2004/05.
The former NBA Draft pick averaged 1.9 steals per game during the regular season, as well as 1.2 blocked shots and 5.7 defensive rebounds.
Mee will receive his trophy at the NBL's Annual Awards Dinner in Sydney on 24 March.
The winner of the award is determined by a poll of the head coach, assistant coach and captain of each team, with balloters unable to vote for members of their own club.
NBL Best Defensive Player Previous Winners
Year Player Club
1980 Ray Wood (West Adelaide Bearcats)
1981 Ray Wood (West Adelaide Bearcats)
1982 Phil Smyth (St. Kilda Saints)
1983 Phil Smyth (St. Kilda Saints)
1984 Not awarded
1985 Not awarded
1986 Not awarded
1987 Leroy Loggins (Brisbane Bullets)
1988 Phil Smyth (Canberra Cannons)
1989 Phil Smyth (Canberra Cannons)
1990 Leroy Loggins (Brisbane Bullets)
1991 Terry Dozier (Geelong Supercats)
1992 Terry Dozier (Newcastle Falcons)
1993 Terry Dozier (Newcastle Falcons)
1994 Darren Lucas (South East Melbourne Magic)
1995 Darren Lucas (South East Melbourne Magic)
1996 Isaac Burton (Sydney Kings)
1997 Mike Kelly (South East Melbourne Magic)
1998 Mike Kelly (South East Melbourne Magic)
1999 Darnell Mee (Adelaide 36ers)
2000 Darnell Mee (Adelaide 36ers)
2001 Darnell Mee (Adelaide 36ers)
2002 Simon Dwight (West Sydney Razorbacks)
2003 Glen Saville (Wollongong Hawks)
2004 Ben Castle (Brisbane Bullets)
2005 Darnell Mee (Wollongong Hawks)
