I would pick him first too, but I don't think we'll see him win MVP.

Another way to look at it is rating that player out of 10 for both offense and defense in which case Martin wouldn't have a chance

Martin - Defense = 9, Offense = 4 = 13
Ennis - Defense = 7, Offense = 9 = 16
Beal - Defense = 7, Offense = 8 = 15

I suspect that on a team that didn't have the scoring options that the Wildcats do, Martin would be likely to let his offensive game show a bit more.

Damo is a star.

Awesome to watch.

Martin's defence is more like 12/10...

On top of that, you can't judge Martin's offence purely on his scoring. His job is to run the offence and he does that well.

"Martin's defence is more like 12/10..."

Bullshit, 13/10 ;)

If you were building a team from scratch and wanted a top Aussie point guard you would be crazy to overlook Damo. If he chose to leave Perth he would be amongst the most sought after players in the league.

"I would pick him first too, but I don't think we'll see him win MVP."

Absolutely, which is a shame but at least coaches and fellow players universally understand his importance to the Wildcats.

Should win league MVP, but won't.

He also does the 1%ers and not just once or twice a game. Getting in the lanes, getting a hand to loose balls, etc and the team lifting dives make his 1%ers into 20%ers. He is the major reason Perth are champions this year....he did have a pretty strong supporting cast....and he doesn't flop!!!!

Damo is a star! But he could be even better offensively if he used his speed and athleticism to take it to the rack more often. Seen games where he was more aggressive and he was unstoppable. Three point shooting is a little inconsistent but could still average around 14-15ppg if he penetrated more often. But the way he runs the point and with the players around him hes more the team oriented point guard. If he was selfish he could quite easily be averaging higher ppg and definitely a MVP candidate

I think he is most valuable player in the true sense, no one else adds more value to their team.

Why does he need to do more offensively when he has all those other weapons around him? Top of the regular season and a championship says he did everything he needed to do. And is apparently an awesome guy.

During the lean 36ers years, I always thought that if we couldn't get Martin, Gibson was our next best bet. (And if not Vukona, then Petrie.) As a coach, if you get Martin, that's a lot less worrying you have to do about playmaking, defense, a player following instructions, etc.

By that logic those players should OPOY.

The most important thing that Damo needs to be MVP he has and that's a coach that doesn't want to take him off the court.

Damo is exceptional in so many ways (reckon he deserved to be in the Wildcats 30th anniversary team) and I think if he had more assists (say 8/game or 2 each quarter) then he would be as noticed as any other player in the league as his hustle is legendary and he has well and truly earned getting his jersey retired in Perth.

Would I pick Damo first if I was building a squad? Yeah I would, I rate Knight as a top 3 calibre big man (league wide) but I am worried about injuries and would pick him second. Of course imports get picked after you've got the best Australian talent available.

As much as I'd love a returning Kevin Lisch or Jermaine Beal for next season. I've dreamt about a Damo & Rotnei back court and it was no nightmare!

As for a great defensive player winning MVP; Hakeem Olajuwon won Defensive player of the year the same year he won league MVP (1994) and then there was a bloke called Michael... I reckon if your going to win league MVP in any comp then you need to be a beast offensively. Damo was in that game of 18,8,8 so more of that and it could happen but I doubt it.

@paul,

All too often I think you're right, in that MVP is often a short-hand for Offensive Player of the Year!

Yeah, all fair points. I think Wollongong would have been unlikely to make it without Rotnei. It raises all the usual arguments of what does MVP mean? We really are having a League's best player award and this is a more accurate description. Most Valuable Player to me is the player that a team could least do without....and for Perth, that is Martin.

Ennis - defense 7 out of 10. The funniest thing I've read on here.