Damian Patrick Martin is a retired basketball player who was born on 5^th September 1984 in Gloucester, New South Wales, Australia. He is regarded as one of the best defenders in the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia. For most of his career, he played for Perth Wildcats. He helped his team win Six NBL championships in his 11 seasons.

Damian Martin’s Early Life And Attending High School

Damian Martin was born to Raymond Martin and Anne Marin. He has three brothers named Anthony, Daniel, and John. He also has a sister named Beth. Damian attended Gloucester high school in New South Wales. To begin with, he started playing rugby. But his mentor and coach Rob Beveridge asked him to concentrate on basketball rather than Rugby. The decision let Damian set his eyes on pursuing a career in basketball.

Private Life Of Damian Martin

Damian’s wife is Brittany Martin, the Two are married since 2015. They have two daughters. His sister Beth is married to NBL legend Brad Newley.

Enrollment At the Australian Institute of Sports

After high school, he got enrolled at the Australian Institute of Sports in Canberra which is renowned for grooming athletes and has elite training programs. He played for the program’s SEABL team. Martin’s skills were honed and he quickly rose as a talented young basketball player in the country. He was groomed by the best coaches and trained alongside future NBA stars like Andrew Bogut and Patty Mills. He played college basketball for Loyola Marymount from 2003 to 2007.

Playing For the Australian National Junior Basketball Team

Damian Martin’s statistics on the National Junior Basketball Team were exceptional. Performances at the junior level paved the way for his entry into the national side. He represented Australia in the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Greece. Martin played a pivotal role in helping his team win the tournament. Australia beat Lithuania in the final 126-92. Beveridge was the head coach of the team. It was the maiden title for Team Australia at the junior level.

Professional Career Of Damian Martin Playing For The Perth WildCats

He caught the attention of the selectors while playing at the Australian Institute of Sport and the Australian Junior basketball team. Based on his performances he was drafted into the NBL by the West Sydney Razorbacks in 2007.

He played two seasons, afterward, he was traded to the Perth Wildcats in 2009. Damien played all professional career with the Perth Wildcats. He played for the Wildcats from 2009 to 2020- the year he retired. He toiled hard to earn himself the title of best defender in the NBL.

Martin averaged 6.2 points, 3.4 assists, 2.3 steals, and 4.2 rebounds per game for the Perth Wildcats. His statistics for the team may not be thrilling but his impact as a defender for the Wildcats is far-reaching.

Star player helped the team to win six NBL championships in 2010,2014,2016,2017,2019, and 2020 respectively. During his stay with the team in NBL, he was defensive player of the year record six times. He was defensive player of the year in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017 respectively. He has been named to the NBL’s All-Defensive First Team ten times.

Damien Martin’s Performance At The Olympics & Commonwealth Games

Damien represented Australia in two consecutive Olympics London 2012 and Rio Olympics 2016 respectively. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he played a key role in helping his team finish in fourth place. Which are the best Olympics standing for team Australia.

He represented Australia in the 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. He led the team from the front. As a senior and aggressive player, his defines and passing ability in the 2018 commonwealth games helped Australia win the Gold medal.

Learn about Boomer’s qualification for the 2023 Basketball World Cup here.

Damian Martin’s Defence Abilities

In the history of NBL, no player comes close to the defensive ability of Damian Patrick Martin known as “Damo” among his fans and fellow players. The ability to dislocate opposing attacks and prevent the best players from scoring made him a key player on any team.

The defensive abilities were built on agility, speed, and impeccable anticipation. Martin was gifted with the ability to read the opposing team’s play, anticipate the moves, and make adjustments to disrupt the offence of the opposing team.

His defense abilities were synchronized by his physical toughness. He was never afraid to get in the way of players, forcing them to make mistakes and use his power to win rebounds.

Damian Marin’s Feats as A Defensive Player

In the 2010 Grand Final of NBL, his performance helped the Wildcats win the decider. His performance was a harbinger of a great defensive player. Damian held Kirk Penney to just six points in the decisive game; Penney was the leading scorer of the tournament. The relentless performance of the fabulous defense player earned him MVP of the Grand Final.

Another feat of extraordinary performance by Damian Martin came against Cairns Tajpans in 2015. In the game, he equaled his record of six steals which is the most steals in a single game in the history of NBL. Perth Wildcats won the game 88-62- thanks to incredible defence skills of Damian. Martin ranks third on the Wildcat’s most steals list.

Retirement Of Damian Martin

In 2020, Damian Martin announced his retirement from professional basketball after playing for 11 years. Almost his entire career he played for the Wildcats which shows his loyalty towards his team. At the press conference, he stated that the game has taken enough physical toll on his body, thus he can’t continue to play further. Overall, he played 342 games scoring 2,689 points, 1121 rebounds, and 1,214 assists.

NBL Best Defensive Player Award Named Damian Martin Trophy At Damian’s retirement

 On the eve of the retirement of Damian Martin, the NBL announced that they will name NBL’s best defensive player award after Damian Martin. The league said that Damian would be remembered forever for his outstanding achievements and contribution toward NBL.

NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said that Damian Martins leaves the games as one of the NBL’S all-time greats. Jeremy lauded Damian for his illustrious career in the NBL and for representing Australia at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

He added that it’s fitting to name the trophy Damian Martin Trophy after an incredible sportsperson and the best defender in 41 years history of the NBL.

Philanthropic Work of Damian Martin

Damian Martin is not only people’s favorite on the court but also off the court. Apart from his profession, he has been a phenomenal Philanthropist. He has been involved in many charitable initiatives to make a long-lasting impact on the community.

He has participated in the annual “Dunk for Diabetes” fundraiser that raises awareness about diabetes and funds research for diabetes. He has spoken on mental health awareness and also his struggle with anxiety and depression to help people know about mental illness.

Damian Martin was named Western Australian of the Year in 2017 for his contribution to the community. In 2018 he was given NBL’s community most MVP award in recognition of his services to the community and helping underprivileged youth coach in basketball.

Conclusion

Damian Martin’s defensive skills and his ability to shut the aggressor made him the best defender in the history of NBL. His speed, physical toughness, extraordinary anticipation, and agility made him a nightmare for opposing teams. He will live forever in the history of the NBL.