Raja Bell was presented with the 2005-06 Majerle Hustle Award on Monday night during halftime of the Suns 115-78 win over the New Orleans Hornets at US Airways Center.

“I’m real honored,” Bell said after accepting his trophy. “For someone to say that you emulate the things that Dan did here is pretty special,” The 6-5 guard acquired by Phoenix last summer has been demonstrating the toughness all season that Thunder Dan exhibited throughout his 13-year NBA career. One of the most difficult plays to make in the NBA is taking a charge and Bell leads the team in sacrificing his body for the betterment of his team.

Growing up, Bell found that it was his hard nose defense and hustle that would help him get noticed, rather than being the highest scorer or flashiest dunker.

“I’ve been a guy who’s had to play defense and scrap to stay in this league, so to get an award like this is pretty special,” Bell said following his 19 points, including five three-pointers.

Once Bell, who is second in the league in three-point makes this season, got his break into the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, he found the same niche and it is what eventually brought him to Phoenix. Although Mike D’Antoni’s run-and-gun style of ball has allowed No. 19 to take more shots, he is still considered the team’s leader on defense, yet remains a big contributor on offense.

“He has to guard the opposing team’s best player night in and night out,” Suns forward James Jones said. “And he still gives us something on the offensive end and he does every night. It’s rare that you find a player who can lock down defensively and then give you 15 points per game.”

D’Antoni has appreciated Bell’s contributions this season in solidifying the two-guard as a defensive specialist for years to come.

“He deserves this award,” D'Antoni said. “He works hard every night. He’s a guy that you would definitely get in the trenches with. We knew this was his reputation when we signed him and he gives us (the hustle) every night.”

In addition to the award, a $9,000 donation will be made to the charity of Bell’s choice. All-Star forward Shawn Marion was the recipient of last season's award, while Bo Outlaw won the inaugural award in 2003, followed by Casey Jacobsen in 2004.

The winner of the 2006 Majerle Hustle Award was selected based on the results of five voting categories: Suns fans, Suns players, Suns coaches, Suns employees and by Majerle himself. Each voting group carried equal weight in the final selection.

At Majerle’s Ring of Honor induction on March 9, 2003, Suns Chairman & CEO Jerry Colangelo established the award to be presented at the end of each season to the Suns player who most personified the qualities of Suns Ring of Honor member Dan Majerle.

“When you think of Dan Majerle,” Colangelo said, “you think of a guy who gave maximum effort in every game, every practice and in everything he did. It is this work ethic that inspired the creation of the award.”

Majerle has been happy with each selection since the award’s inception and says it never gets old to present an annual award in his honor. “I’m proud that Raja won the award,” Majerle said with a smile. “He comes out and plays hard every night offensively and defensively. He plays extremely hard and does all the little things – takes charges, gets steals and plays one-on-one defense

“It’s nice to have an award in my honor, especially for what it stands for. (It stands for) all the little things that might not be recognized on the stat sheet, but everyone on your team notices that your out there giving it your all every night.”