Leicester Riders’ Andrew Sullivan has scooped two prizes in this year’s Basketball Journalists awards, by winning the British basketball Player of the Year and the best domestic player in the British Basketball League.
The Great Britain captain has led his team to BBL Cup and regular season glory and hopes to make it a treble as his side face the Newcastle Eagles on Sunday in the Playoff final at Wembley Arena.
This is the third and fourth BJA award claimed by the Riders this season with Rob Paternostro winning Coach of the Year last week from votes posted by members of the BJA.
“Right from the start of the season, I think Drew’s been the best player in the league,” said Paternostro.
“His numbers stand out in the stat sheet but he also has a huge influence on games which goes way beyond that. You see him do whatever is needed: if we need rebounding, he just rebounds, or maybe scoring or maybe defence. That’s what makes him great.”
In the Player of the Year ballot, Sullivan’s team-mate Jay Cousinard finished runner-up with Newcastle’s Kareem Maddox third.
It was also a 1-2 finish in the best domestic player award, named after the late basketball writer Pete Jacques as Anthony Rowe finished second and Glasgow Rocks’ forward Gareth Murray ending in third.
For the third time in his career, Chicago Bulls and Great Britain forward Luol Deng won the Syd Lipski award, given to the best British player on the international stage.
The former Brixton Topcat junior was Great Britain’s leading scorer at last summer’s Olympic Games in London and secured his second NBA All Star appearance in Febuary.
GB Women’s guard Johannah Leedham, who featured for French side Bourges Basket at the Euroleague Women Final 8 finished as runner-up. Portland Trailblazers forward Joel Freeland was third.
