Dech out to defend honour

It was an up-and-down NBL24 campaign for Sunday Dech, but the 30-year-old is setting lofty goals for the new season.

In fact, he’s got his eyes on one of the most coveted prizes of all, the Damian Martin Trophy for the league’s best defensive player.

That’s a long way from the speculation midway through last season that Dech, alongside fellow veterans Jason Cadee and Mitch McCarron were set to be removed from the Adelaide rotation. 

Those rumours never really came to fruition, despite a coaching change at the 36ers, as Scott Ninnis replaced CJ Bruton. Although his minutes ultimately dropped from an average of 21 to 15 year-on-year, Dech remained a key part of Adelaide’s depth chart and still has another year remaining on his contract.

Now he’s keen to get back to his very best form.

“When things happened in the (NBL24) season, I got benched there for a couple of games, the NBL rumour mill starts happening,” Dech told the 36ers’ website. 

“I signed a three-year deal with Adelaide, and I was always going to honour that and I can’t wait for this season.”

Dech has played a starring role for the East Perth Eagles during the current NBL1 campaign, averaging 20.7 points, five assists, six rebounds and two steals a game.

He’s been working closely with new Adelaide GM of Basketball Operations Matt Weston, with big goals in mind for NBL25.

“Matt came over to Perth recently and that was really cool to see how the club now treats their players and I was really excited about that,” Dech said.

“I think I’ve been one of the best defenders in the league for a long time, so why not this year?

“I will set my sights on that (the Damian Martin Trophy). Shea Ili took the award away from the big guys last year and AC (Antonius Cleveland) has won it for us in the past.

“They are guys that I admire and respect, so I want to follow in their footsteps as well as the guy I learnt a lot off of in my time in Perth, Damian Martin.”

Weston said Dech would be key to Adelaide’s championship hopes, when the new season tips off in Perth with HoopsFest on September 19.

“There were murmurs when I came into this position, but the record is now straight, he (Dech) is coming back and he is going to be really good for us, giving that backcourt grunt that we need,” Weston added.