Kristian Doolittle is on the shortlist to become the just the second Wildcat ever to win the NBL’s Defensive Player of the Year award alongside Damian Martin – the man who the prize was ultimately named after.
Doolittle was recognised for a superb season by being voted as a finalist for both the defensive award and the league’s MVP honour.
With one game left in Perth’s regular season campaign, Doolittle is averaging team-high numbers across all three major stat categories with 17 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
Though it’s widely expected that the MVP race will come down to a battle between ex-Wildcat Bryce Cotton and Sydney star Kendric Davis, who lead an 11-player shortlist for the prize, Doolittle is set to be at the forefront of the race for the Damian Martin Trophy.
The 28-year-old has produced some brilliant lockdown efforts on the league’s best, showing off his versatility to guard both smalls and talls in equal measure, and will likely battle South East Melbourne import John Brown III for the prize.
“If you were to just line up and play one on one, he can defend every player in the league. Tell me one other player that has that ability,” Wildcats coach John Rillie said of Doolittle earlier this month.
“So as far as versatility and wanting the challenge, if anyone thinks someone else can defend one through five with the ability that he does, please let me know.”
Martin won the league’s defensive prize six times last decade before it was named after him in 2020. No other Perth player has ever snared Defensive Player of the Year honours.
Ben Henshall made the five-player shortlist for the Next Generation Prize after stepping into the void as the team’s point guard at times this season amid a wave of injuries.
After returning for his third year as a Wildcat having missed out on an NBA call-up, Henshall is averaging 9.1 points, 2.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.
The league’s awards night is on Monday.
NBL AWARDS SHORTLIST
Andrew Gaze Trophy for Most Valuable Player
- John Brown III (South East Melbourne)
- Zylan Cheatham (Adelaide)
- Xavier Cooks (Sydney)
- Bryce Cotton (Adelaide)
- Kendric Davis (Sydney)
- Kristian Doolittle (Perth)
- Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania)
- Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand)
- JaVale McGee (Illawarra)
- Jack McVeigh (Cairns)
- Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne)
Damian Martin Trophy for Defensive Player of the Year
- John Brown III (South East Melbourne)
- Xavier Cooks (Sydney)
- Kristian Doolittle (Perth)
- Bul Kuol (Sydney)
- Will Magnay (Tasmania)
- Nick Marshall (Tasmania)
- Tyson Walker (Melbourne)
Next Generation Award
- Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne)
- Jaylin Galloway (Sydney)
- Ben Henshall (Perth)
- Karim Lopez (New Zealand)
- Sam Mennenga (New Zealand)
Most Improved Player
- Josh Bannan (Tasmania)
- Flynn Cameron (Adelaide)
- Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne)
- Makuach Maluach (Sydney)
- Nick Marshall (Tasmania)
- Sam Mennenga (New Zealand)
Best Sixth Man
- Majok Deng (Tasmania)
- Angus Glover (South East Melbourne)
- Will Hickey (Illawarra)
- Kouat Noi (Sydney)
- Nick Rakocevic (Adelaide)
