The Pick and Roll

The Pick and Roll

NBL26's Top Five Defensive Players of the Year

Ranking the top contenders and honourable mentions for the Damian Martin Trophy.

Jordan McCallum's avatar
Jordan McCallum
Feb 08, 2026
∙ Paid

Defensive Player of the Year might look like finishing with a predictable winner, but there’s still certainly been intrigue throughout NBL26, particularly prior to a couple of key injuries.

Four standouts have been in consideration for my top spot at one point or another of the season, whilst another two have clearly been in the top five mix. In addition to those, there’s another handful of honourable mentions who deserve recognition for their body of work this season.

Below are my rankings, paired with rationale and video to help you make your own mind up for how you would fill out the order of your own ballot.

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of The Pick and Roll.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 The Pick and Roll Pty Ltd · Publisher Privacy ∙ Publisher Terms
Substack · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture