Jones Best Sixth Man
Tagged in: NZ Breakers
The Australian National Basketball League has announced New Zealand Breakers veteran Phill Jones has won the Best Sixth Man award for the 2008-09 season.
Jones, who came third in voting for the same award last year, took out the honours as the NBL’s best-off-the-bench this season after polling 56 votes.
He comfortably beat out Wollongong’s Anthony Petrie in second (36) and Isiah Victor of Perth in third (29). Adelaide’s Brett Maher ranked fourth while Jones’ teammate, Dillon Boucher, came fifth in voting with 15.
In 29 regular season matches for the Breakers, Jones averaged 14.7 points per game, as well as 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He made 48 percent of his attempts from the field, including 42 percent from beyond the three-point arc, and converted 87 percent of his free-throws.
The former Tall Blacks guard was an integral part of the Breakers’ historic drive to their first-ever semifinals berth and their club-best 18-12 regular season record.
“There is something special here at this club, we have improved as a group this year but there is still very much unfinished business and a keen desire to win a championship for the club and for our supporters,” Jones said.
“This is a great honour for me but also for the club. I am just so thankful to Andrej (Lemanis) and the club for keeping faith in me when they probably had cause not to after year one back.”
The Best Sixth Man award is determined by a vote of all league head coaches and captains and one assistant coach per club, with voters excluded from voting for members of their own team.
Previous winners of the Best Sixth Man award include Jason Smith, Bruce Bolden, Stephen Black and Chris Anstey. Jones is the first Breakers player ever to win the award and the first New Zealander.
2009 ANBL Best Sixth Man
Final Votes
Phill Jones (NZ) 56
Anthony Petrie (Wollongong) 36
Isiah Victor (Perth) 29
Brett Maher (Adelaide) 18
Dillon Boucher (NZ) 15
Stephen Hoare (Melbourne) 11
Dave Gruber (Sydney) 7
Nathan Herbert (South) 4
Brad Williamson (Townsville) 4
Best Sixth Man Winners
1996 Mike McKay (Brisbane Bullets)
1997 Ben Pepper (Newcastle Falcons)
1998 Jason Smith (South East Melbourne Magic)
1999 Bruce Bolden (West Sydney Razorbacks)
2000 Ben Knight (Townsville Crocodiles)
2001 Chris Anstey (Victoria Titans)
2002 Jamahl Mosley (Victoria Titans)
2003 Stephen Black (Perth Wildcats)
2004 Darryl McDonald (Melbourne Tigers)
2005 Brad Newley (Townsville)
2006 Stephen Hoare (Melbourne)
2007 Stephen Hoare (Melbourne)
2008 Dontaye Draper (Sydney Kings)
2009 Phill Jones (NZ Breakers)
