Derrick Zimmerman Selected Defensive Player of the Year
Published on March 29, 2005 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C., March 29 â Columbus Riverdragons point guard Derrick Zimmerman has been selected as the National Basketball Development League Defensive Player of the Year for the 2004-05 season. Zimmerman was selected by a vote of the league's six head coaches.
Zimmerman is among NBDL leaders in steals, as well as assists, but Columbus head coach Jeff Malone says there are areas of Zimmerman's game that go unnoticed in the box score that set him apart.
"Derrick has been one of the toughest defensive players in our league over the past two seasons, and this year he really stepped to the forefront," Malone said. "He has put two solid years together by continuing to develop his all-around game and has developed a reputation as one of the more well-rounded players in the NBDL."
Zimmerman is second in the league in total steals with 78 and tied for second in steals per game at 1.9, but it is his court awareness and savvy that allows the Mississippi State product to spearhead the top defensive team in the NBDL.
"Derrick has proven all season long that a player can make a difference on the defensive end of the floor," NBDL director of basketball operations Chris Alpert said. "The numbers bear out Columbus as the top defensive team in the league this season and that all starts with Derrick at the point.
"Derrick knows how to play the game and he works hard on the defensive end," Alpert said. "He is a solid on-ball defender who communicates well with his teammates. He realizes that he sets the tone for his team on the defensive end."
The Riverdragons are the top scoring defense in the league, allowing just 89.2 points per game. Columbus also leads the league in opponent field goal percentage at .435 and opponent's field goals allowed with 1,451.
Zimmerman joins Karim Shabazz (2003-04), Mikki Moore (2002-03) and Jeff Myers (2001-02) as winners of the NBDL Defensive Player of the Year Award.
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