Adelaide 36ers star big man Adam Ballinger and Gold Coast Blaze head coach Joey Wright have been named the National Basketball League’s Player and Coach of the Month respectively for November. 

Ballinger took out the award from Wollongong Hawks’ import Tywain McKee with a clear margin, receiving 34 votes to McKee’s 16.  Adelaide’s American point guard John Gilchrist polled third with 14 votes.

For the month, Ballinger averaged 24.0 points per game, as well as 6.5 rebounds.  He shot the ball at 58% from the field, including 44% from three-point territory.  He also made 78% of his free-throws during November as Adelaide went 3-1 for the month. 

Ballinger’s personal highlight in November was a 36-point, 11-rebound game against the Gold Coast Blaze.

Joey Wright was a runaway winner in the Coach of the Month polling, receiving 48 votes to place him well clear of Adelaide’s Scott Ninnis in second place (24 votes) and Wollongong’s Gordie McLeod 18 in third.

Wright’s team has a league-best 4-1 record for the month, beating Perth twice and Townsville and New Zealand once apiece.

The NBL’s Player and Coach of the Month for November took into account Rounds 7 to 10 inclusive. All NBL Head Coaches and accredited media are eligible to vote for the awards.

NBL Player of the Month - November 2009
  
Player  
Adam Ballinger - Adelaide - 34
Tywain McKee - Wollongong - 16
John Gilchrist - Adelaide - 14
Peter Crawford - Townsville - 9
Shawn Redhage - Perth - 8
Ayinde Ubaka - Gold Coast - 7
Anthony Petrie - Gold Coast - 6
Oscar Forman - New Zealand - 4
Dusty Rychart - Cairns - 3
Corey Williams - Townsville - 3
Julius Hodge - Melbourne - 2
Martin Cattalini - Perth - 2
CJ Bruton - New Zealand - 1
Adam Gibson - Gold Coast - 1
Erron Maxey - Gold Coast - 1
Rolan Roberts - Townsville - 1
  
Coach  
Joey Wright - Gold Coast - 48
Scott Ninnis - Adelaide - 24
Gordie McLeod - Wollongong - 18
Rob Beveridge - Perth - 5
Trevor Gleeson - Townsville - 5
Aaron Fearne - Cairns - 1
Andrej Lemanis - New Zealand - 1