By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
AS Monaco forward Alpha Diallo was named the 2025-26 EuroLeague Best Defender.
Euroleague Basketball confirmed the decision on Thursday.
Per the press release: “Alpha Diallo’s defensive excellence has been recognized at the highest level, as the AS Monaco forward has been named the 2025-26 EuroLeague Best Defender. Selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches, the award reflects Diallo’s season-long influence on that end of the floor, where his versatility and consistency set him apart across the competition.
Alpha Diallo is your 2025–26 EuroLeague Best Defender! 🏆 @ASMonaco_Basket forward was excellent on the defensive end all season long 🔒#EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/I34EnhpWXD
— EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) April 23, 2026
Diallo, who finished third in the voting last season, takes home the honor after anchoring Monaco’s aggressive defense. A true Swiss Army Knife of a defender, Diallo’s rare blend of speed, strength, length and basketball IQ allowed him to switch seamlessly across positions and neutralize a wide range of offensive threats. His adaptability made him a cornerstone of Monaco’s defensive schemes and a constant problem for opposing coaches to solve.
Now in his fifth EuroLeague season, all with Monaco, Diallo delivered his most complete defensive campaign to date. He ranked second in the league in steals with 1.34 per game, consistently disrupting passing lanes and jump-starting Monaco’s transition game. Diallo started all 38 regular season games and also contributed 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per contest, underlining the two-way value he brought to the floor on a nightly basis.
Advanced metrics further underscored Diallo’s defensive excellence. According to Synergy Sports, he was graded “excellent” in overall defensive possessions, man defense and pressing situations. Diallo led all EuroLeague forwards in points allowed per possession at 0.844 and ranked among the competition’s top 20 players by allowing just 0.706 points per possession when guarding the ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations. With Diallo as its leader, Monaco forced the fourth-most turnovers in the league (13.2 per game) and ranked fifth in opposing team’s PIR (91.1) and steals (6.8 spg.).
Nicolo Melli of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul finished second in the voting for the Best Defender Trophy. The 2024 Best Defender Thomas Walkup of Olympiacos Piraeus placed third, followed by three-time winner Walter Tavares of Real Madrid in fourth place and Jerian Grant of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in fifth.
Diallo becomes the latest addition to the distinguished list of EuroLeague Best Defender winners. Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos Athens remains the most decorated recipient with six trophies. Tavares and Kyle Hines are three-time winners and Bryant Dunston claimed the title twice. Other notable honorees include Andrei Kirilenko, Victor Khryapa, Stephane Lasme, Adam Hanga and Nick Weiler-Babb. With his first Best Defender award, Diallo further cements his status as one of the premier defensive forces in the modern EuroLeague.”