KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Breakers historic Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) campaign has been reflected in the nomination of four players for the first round of end of season awards.
Phill Jones, Dillon Boucher, Paul Henare and Oscar Forman are all among the contenders when the NBL announced the fields for the league's rookie of the year, best sixth man, defensive player of the year and most improved player.
Boucher was nominated in two categories - sixth man and defensive player while fellow international Jones is also in contention for the sixth man award.
Breakers' foundation point guard Paul Henare is among the contenders for the defensive award while Australian-born forward Oscar Forman is included in a group of 13 chasing the most improved player award.
Each of the NBL's 10 teams nominated a maximum of two players from their own roster for each of the four award categories.
Voting for the award winners is currently underway, with the head coach, one assistant coach and one captain from each team having the chance to cast 3-2-1 votes for their preferred choices.
The eventual winners to be named during the course of the 2009 NBL Finals series.
Voters are not allowed to vote for players from their own team in the final balloting process.
Other awards to be announced include the Andrew Gaze Trophy for the NBL's most valuable player, the All-NBL first, second and third teams, referee of the year and the Lindsay Gaze Trophy for coach of the year.
Rookie of the Year
Aaron Bruce (Adelaide), Zac Carter (Gold Coast), Chris Goulding (Perth), Dan Jackson (Wollongong), Daniel Johnson (Melbourne), Rhys Martin (Wollongong), Adrien Sturt (Melbourne), Stephen Weigh (Perth), Kerry Williams (Cairns).
Best Sixth Man
Dillon Boucher (NZ), Daryl Corletto (Melbourne), Jeff Dowdell (Perth), Casey Frank (Gold Coast), Dave Gruber (Sydney), Nathan Herbert (South), Brad Hill (Adelaide), Stephen Hoare (Melbourne), Phill Jones (NZ), Daniel Joyce (Gold Coast), Brett Maher (Adelaide), Anthony Petrie (Wollongong), Dwayne Vale (Cairns), Isiah Victor (Perth), Kerry Williams (Cairns), Brad Williamson (Townsville).
Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Anstey (Melbourne), Dillon Boucher (NZ), Mat Campbell (Wollongong), Peter Crawford (Perth), Ebi Ere (Melbourne), Adam Gibson (South), Aaron Grabau (Cairns), Paul Henare (NZ), Jacob Holmes (Adelaide), Daniel Joyce (Gold Coast), Alex Loughton (Perth), Scott McGregor (Gold Coast), Damian Martin (Sydney), Darnell Mee (Cairns), Glen Saville (Wollongong), Jason Smith (Sydney), Cameron Tovey (Townsville).
Most Improved Player
Michael Cedar (Townsville), Ian Crosswhite (Cairns), Oscar Forman (NZ), Chris Goulding (Perth), Aaron Grabau (Cairns), Tommy Greer (Melbourne), Nathan Herbert (South), Brad Hill (Adelaide), Daniel Joyce (Gold Coast), Matt Knight (Sydney), Anthony Petrie (Wollongong), Lindsay Tait (Wollongong), Luke Whitehead (Gold Coast).
- NZPA
