GREENVILLE, S.C., March 28 – Austin Toros point guard Derrick Zimmerman has been selected as the NBA Development League Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Zimmerman, who won the award as a member of the Columbus Riverdragons last season, was selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches.

Zimmerman leads the D-League in total steals (77) and steals per game (1.9) and is third in assists per game (6.4), but basketball experts around the league point to areas of Zimmerman’s game that not only set him apart, but may go unnoticed in a box score.

"For the second straight year, Derrick Zimmerman has proven that you can have a tremendous impact on the game at the defensive end of the floor,” NBA D-League Senior Director of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel Chris Alpert said. “Our coaches recognize Derrick's hard work and ability to take over a game with his defensive prowess.

“He is the leader of his team and brings energy and a contagious commitment to the defensive end of the floor every night,” Alpert said. “He never takes a play off and relishes his role as a defensive stopper."

Averaging 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds, Zimmerman’s durability is another area that sets him apart. He is second in the league, and first among players that have played at least 40 games, in minutes played (36.5 pg).

As the first repeat winner of a major NBA D-League season award, Zimmerman joins Karim Shabazz (Charleston, 2003-04), Mikki Moore (Roanoke, 2002-03) and Jeff Myers (Greenville, 2001-02) as winners of the D-League Defensive Player of the Year Award.