Alpha Diallo named the EuroLeague 2025–26 Defensive Player of the Year
Alpha Diallo of AS Monaco Basket has been named the EuroLeague 2025–26 Defensive Player of the Year. The award, voted by the league’s coaches, reflects Diallo’s consistent impact on both ends of the floor throughout the season, with his versatility and reliability setting him apart from the rest of the competition. After finishing third in last year’s voting, he now claims the honor after anchoring Monaco’s aggressive defensive system.
A true “do-it-all” defender, Diallo’s rare blend of speed, strength, wingspan, and basketball IQ allowed him to guard multiple positions and neutralize a wide range of offensive threats. In his fifth EuroLeague season, all with Monaco, he delivered his best defensive campaign yet. He ranks second in the competition in steals with an average of 1.34 per game, regularly disrupting passing lanes and fueling transition opportunities. He started all 38 regular-season games, also contributing 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game, underlining his all-around impact.
Advanced metrics further highlight his defensive dominance. According to Synergy Sports, Diallo graded as “excellent” in on-ball defense, pressure situations, and overall possessions. He was the best forward in the EuroLeague in points allowed per possession (0.844) and ranked among the top 20 players defending the pick-and-roll ball-handler, allowing just 0.706 points per possession. With Diallo leading the way, Monaco forced the fourth-most turnovers in the league (13.2 per game), ranked fifth in opponent PIR allowed (91.1), and sixth in steals (6.8 per game).
Behind him in the voting, Nicolò Melli of Fenerbahçe Beko finished second, while 2024 winner Thomas Walkup of Olympiacos B.C. came third. Fourth place went to three-time winner Walter Tavares of Real Madrid Baloncesto, with Jerian Grant of Panathinaikos BC rounding out the top five.
With his first Defensive Player of the Year award, Diallo joins an elite list of EuroLeague defensive legends and further cements his status as one of the premier defensive specialists in modern European basketball.
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