EuroLeague Best Defender

{{short description|Annual basketball award of the European premier league.}}

File:Diamantidis 11052013.JPG was the EuroLeague's Best Defender 6 times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011).]]

The EuroLeague Best Defender is an annual basketball award of the European premier level EuroLeague. It is awarded to the best defensive player throughout the season, up until the EuroLeague Final Four stage of the season. The award began in the 2004–05 season, and the winner is selected by the EuroLeague's head coaches. Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos Athens, won the first five awards, from 2005 to 2009.

Winners

File:Bryant Dunston.jpg was the EuroLeague's Best Defender 2 times (2014, 2015).]]

class="wikitable sortable"
Season	Position	Best Defender	Club	class=unsortable \| {{Tooltip\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
style="text-align:center;"\| 2004–05 \|style="text-align:center;"\| PG \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Panathinaikos \|
style="text-align:center;"\| 2005–06 \|style="text-align:center;"\| PG \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (2x) \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Panathinaikos \|
style="text-align:center;"\| 2006–07 \|style="text-align:center;"\| PG \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (3x) \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Panathinaikos \|
style="text-align:center;"\| 2007–08 \|style="text-align:center;"\| PG \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (4x) \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Panathinaikos \|
style="text-align:center;"\| 2008–09 \|style="text-align:center;"\| PG \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (5x) \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Panathinaikos \|
style="text-align:center;"\| 2009–10 \|style="text-align:center;"\| PF \|{{flagicon\|RUS}} Victor Khryapa \|{{flagicon\|RUS}} CSKA Moscow \|style="text-align:center;"\| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/70788/180 Best Defender Trophy: Viktor Khryapa, CSKA Moscow.]
style="text-align:center;"\| 2010–11 \|style="text-align:center;"\| PG \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (6x) \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Panathinaikos \|style="text-align:center;"\| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/84929/180/dimitris-diamantidis-wins-sixth-best-defender-trophy Dimitris Diamantidis wins sixth Best Defender Trophy.]
style="text-align:center;"\| 2011–12 \|style="text-align:center;"\| SF \|{{flagicon\|RUS}} Andrei Kirilenko \|{{flagicon\|RUS}} CSKA Moscow \|style="text-align:center;"\| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/96661/180 Best Defender Trophy: Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA Moscow.]
style="text-align:center;"\| 2012–13 \|style="text-align:center;"\| C \|{{flagicon\|GAB}} Stéphane Lasme \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Panathinaikos \|style="text-align:center;"\| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/112932/180 Best Defender Trophy winner: Stephane Lasme, Panathinaikos Athens.]
style="text-align:center;"\| 2013–14 \|style="text-align:center;"\| C \|{{flagicon\|USA}} {{flagicon\|Armenia}} Bryant Dunston \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Olympiacos \|style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web\|title=Coaches vote Bryant Dunston of Olympiacos this season's Best Defender\|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/136743/180/coaches-vote-bryant-dunston-of-olympiacos-this-season-s-best-defender\|work=Euroleague.net\|accessdate=7 May 2014}}
style="text-align:center;"\| 2014–15 \|style="text-align:center;"\| C \|{{flagicon\|USA}} {{flagicon\|Armenia}} Bryant Dunston (2x) \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Olympiacos \|style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web\|title=2014-15 Best Defender Trophy winner: Bryant Dunston, Olympiacos Piraeus\|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/5xoch6rhm57d7jlw/\|accessdate=6 May 2015}}
style="text-align:center;"\| 2015–16 \|style="text-align:center;"\| C \|{{flagicon\|USA}} Kyle Hines \|{{flagicon\|RUS}} CSKA Moscow \|style="text-align:center;"\| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/6uxl5y5lm8ij4t7q Best Defender Trophy: Kyle Hines, CSKA Moscow.]
style="text-align:center;"\| 2016–17 \|style="text-align:center;"\| SF \|{{flagicon\|HUN}} Ádám Hanga \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Baskonia \|style="text-align:center;"\| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/7sqa45hnl6ft9jvh Adam Hanga of Baskonia captures Best Defender Trophy.]
style="text-align:center;"\| 2017–18 \|style="text-align:center;"\| C \|{{flagicon\|USA}} Kyle Hines (2x) \|{{flagicon\|RUS}} CSKA Moscow \|style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web\|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8q663xdn3apbxh8s/euroleague-best-defender-kyle-hines-cska-moscow \|title=EuroLeague Best Defender: Kyle Hines, CSKA Moscow\|work=Euroleague.net\|accessdate=10 May 2018}}
style="text-align:center;"\| 2018–19 \|style="text-align:center;"\| C \|{{flagicon\|CPV}} Edy Tavares \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Real Madrid \|style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web\|url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/9nfe4rna8bmn9n7y/euroleague-best-defender-walter-tavares-real-madrid \|title=EuroLeague Best Defender: Walter Tavares, Real Madrid \|work=Euroleague.net\|accessdate=8 May 2019}}
style="text-align:center;" \|2019–20 ! colspan=4\| Not awarded {{ref\|1\|1}}
style="text-align:center;"\| 2020–21 \|style="text-align:center;"\| C \|{{flagicon\|CPV}} Edy Tavares (2x) \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Real Madrid \|style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web\|url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/bikjjg6bp9ncut9n/real-s-tavares-repeats-as-euroleague-best-defender \|title=Real's Tavares repeats as EuroLeague Best Defender \|work=Euroleague.net\|accessdate=13 May 2021}}
style="text-align:center;"\| 2021–22 \|style="text-align:center;"\| C \|{{flagicon\|USA}} Kyle Hines (3x) \|{{flagicon\|ITA}} Olimpia Milano \|style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web\|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/kyle-hines-is-the-2021-22-euroleague-best-defender/ \|title=Kyle Hines is the 2021-22 EuroLeague Best Defender\|work=Euroleague.net\|access-date=10 May 2022}}
style="text-align:center;" \| 2022–23 \| style="text-align:center;" \| C \|{{flagicon\|CPV}} Edy Tavares (3x) \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Real Madrid \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{Cite web \|title=Walter Tavares is the 2022-23 EuroLeague Best Defender {{!}} EuroLeague \|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/walter-tavares-is-the-2022-23-euroleague-best-defender/ \|access-date=2023-05-13 \|website=Euroleague Basketball \|language=en-GB}}
style="text-align:center;" \| 2023–24 \| style="text-align:center;" \| PG \|{{flagicon\|USA}} {{flagicon\|GRE}} Thomas Walkup \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Olympiacos \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{Cite web \|date=2024-05-11 \|title=Thomas Walkup of Olympiacos is voted the 2023-24 EuroLeague Best Defender {{!}} EuroLeague \|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/thomas-walkup-of-olympiacos-is-voted-the-2023-24-euroleague-best-defender/ \|access-date=2024-05-11 \|website=Euroleague Basketball \|language=en-GB}}
style="text-align:center;" \| 2024–25 \| style="text-align:center;" \| PG \|{{flagicon\|USA}} {{flagicon\|GER}} Nick Weiler-Babb \|{{flagicon\|GER}} Bayern Munich \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{Cite web \|date=2025-04-16 \|title=Nick Weiler-Babb is named the 2024-25 EuroLeague Best Defender {{!}} EuroLeague \|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/nick-weiler-babb-is-named-the-2024-25-euroleague-best-defender/ \|access-date=2025-04-16 \|website=Euroleague Basketball \|language=en-GB}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Season

Position

Best Defender

Club

class=unsortable | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

style="text-align:center;"| 2004–05

|style="text-align:center;"| PG

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Panathinaikos

style="text-align:center;"| 2005–06

|style="text-align:center;"| PG

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (2x)

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Panathinaikos

style="text-align:center;"| 2006–07

|style="text-align:center;"| PG

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (3x)

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Panathinaikos

style="text-align:center;"| 2007–08

|style="text-align:center;"| PG

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (4x)

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Panathinaikos

style="text-align:center;"| 2008–09

|style="text-align:center;"| PG

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (5x)

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Panathinaikos

style="text-align:center;"| 2009–10

|style="text-align:center;"| PF

|{{flagicon|RUS}} Victor Khryapa

|{{flagicon|RUS}} CSKA Moscow

|style="text-align:center;"| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/70788/180 Best Defender Trophy: Viktor Khryapa, CSKA Moscow.]

style="text-align:center;"| 2010–11

|style="text-align:center;"| PG

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis (6x)

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Panathinaikos

|style="text-align:center;"| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/84929/180/dimitris-diamantidis-wins-sixth-best-defender-trophy Dimitris Diamantidis wins sixth Best Defender Trophy.]

style="text-align:center;"| 2011–12

|style="text-align:center;"| SF

|{{flagicon|RUS}} Andrei Kirilenko

|{{flagicon|RUS}} CSKA Moscow

|style="text-align:center;"| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/96661/180 Best Defender Trophy: Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA Moscow.]

style="text-align:center;"| 2012–13

|style="text-align:center;"| C

|{{flagicon|GAB}} Stéphane Lasme

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Panathinaikos

|style="text-align:center;"| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/112932/180 Best Defender Trophy winner: Stephane Lasme, Panathinaikos Athens.]

style="text-align:center;"| 2013–14

|style="text-align:center;"| C

|{{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|Armenia}} Bryant Dunston

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Olympiacos

|style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|title=Coaches vote Bryant Dunston of Olympiacos this season's Best Defender|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/136743/180/coaches-vote-bryant-dunston-of-olympiacos-this-season-s-best-defender|work=Euroleague.net|accessdate=7 May 2014}}

style="text-align:center;"| 2014–15

|style="text-align:center;"| C

|{{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|Armenia}} Bryant Dunston (2x)

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Olympiacos

|style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|title=2014-15 Best Defender Trophy winner: Bryant Dunston, Olympiacos Piraeus|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/5xoch6rhm57d7jlw/|accessdate=6 May 2015}}

style="text-align:center;"| 2015–16

|style="text-align:center;"| C

|{{flagicon|USA}} Kyle Hines

|{{flagicon|RUS}} CSKA Moscow

|style="text-align:center;"| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/6uxl5y5lm8ij4t7q Best Defender Trophy: Kyle Hines, CSKA Moscow.]

style="text-align:center;"| 2016–17

|style="text-align:center;"| SF

|{{flagicon|HUN}} Ádám Hanga

|{{flagicon|ESP}} Baskonia

|style="text-align:center;"| [http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/7sqa45hnl6ft9jvh Adam Hanga of Baskonia captures Best Defender Trophy.]

style="text-align:center;"| 2017–18

|style="text-align:center;"| C

|{{flagicon|USA}} Kyle Hines (2x)

|{{flagicon|RUS}} CSKA Moscow

|style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/8q663xdn3apbxh8s/euroleague-best-defender-kyle-hines-cska-moscow |title=EuroLeague Best Defender: Kyle Hines, CSKA Moscow|work=Euroleague.net|accessdate=10 May 2018}}

style="text-align:center;"| 2018–19

|style="text-align:center;"| C

|{{flagicon|CPV}} Edy Tavares

|{{flagicon|ESP}} Real Madrid

|style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/9nfe4rna8bmn9n7y/euroleague-best-defender-walter-tavares-real-madrid |title=EuroLeague Best Defender: Walter Tavares, Real Madrid |work=Euroleague.net|accessdate=8 May 2019}}

style="text-align:center;"

|2019–20

! colspan=4| Not awarded {{ref|1|1}}

style="text-align:center;"| 2020–21

|style="text-align:center;"| C

|{{flagicon|CPV}} Edy Tavares (2x)

|{{flagicon|ESP}} Real Madrid

|style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=https://www.euroleague.net/news/i/bikjjg6bp9ncut9n/real-s-tavares-repeats-as-euroleague-best-defender |title=Real's Tavares repeats as EuroLeague Best Defender |work=Euroleague.net|accessdate=13 May 2021}}

style="text-align:center;"| 2021–22

|style="text-align:center;"| C

|{{flagicon|USA}} Kyle Hines (3x)

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Olimpia Milano

|style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/kyle-hines-is-the-2021-22-euroleague-best-defender/ |title=Kyle Hines is the 2021-22 EuroLeague Best Defender|work=Euroleague.net|access-date=10 May 2022}}

style="text-align:center;" | 2022–23

| style="text-align:center;" | C

|{{flagicon|CPV}} Edy Tavares (3x)

|{{flagicon|ESP}} Real Madrid

| style="text-align:center;" |{{Cite web |title=Walter Tavares is the 2022-23 EuroLeague Best Defender {{!}} EuroLeague |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/walter-tavares-is-the-2022-23-euroleague-best-defender/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Euroleague Basketball |language=en-GB}}

style="text-align:center;" | 2023–24

| style="text-align:center;" | PG

|{{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|GRE}} Thomas Walkup

|{{flagicon|GRE}} Olympiacos

| style="text-align:center;" |{{Cite web |date=2024-05-11 |title=Thomas Walkup of Olympiacos is voted the 2023-24 EuroLeague Best Defender {{!}} EuroLeague |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/thomas-walkup-of-olympiacos-is-voted-the-2023-24-euroleague-best-defender/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=Euroleague Basketball |language=en-GB}}

style="text-align:center;" | 2024–25

| style="text-align:center;" | PG

|{{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|GER}} Nick Weiler-Babb

|{{flagicon|GER}} Bayern Munich

| style="text-align:center;" |{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=Nick Weiler-Babb is named the 2024-25 EuroLeague Best Defender {{!}} EuroLeague |url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/nick-weiler-babb-is-named-the-2024-25-euroleague-best-defender/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Euroleague Basketball |language=en-GB}}

Notes:

:{{note|1|1}} There was no awarding in the 2019–20, because the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic in Europe.

Multiple honors

=Players=

Number	Player
class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center;"\| 6 \| {{flagicon\|GRE}} Dimitris Diamantidis
rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| 3 \| {{flagicon\|USA}} Kyle Hines
{{flagicon\|CPV}} Edy Tavares
style="text-align:center;" \| 2 \| {{flagicon\|Armenia}} Bryant Dunston
rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" \| 1 \| {{flagicon\|HUN}} Ádám Hanga
{{flagicon\|RUS}} Victor Khryapa
{{flagicon\|RUS}} Andrei Kirilenko
{{flagicon\|GAB}} Stéphane Lasme
{{flagicon\|GRE}} Thomas Walkup
{{flagicon\|GER}} Nick Weiler-Babb

=Player nationality=

Number	Country
class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center;"\| 7 \| {{flag\|Greece}}
rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| 3 \| {{flag\|United States}}
{{flag\|Cape Verde}}
rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| 2 \| {{flag\|Armenia}}
{{flag\|Russia}}
rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" \| 1 \| {{flag\|Gabon}}
{{flag\|Hungary}}
{{flag\|Germany}}

=Clubs=

Number	Club
class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center;"\| 7 \|{{flagicon\|GRE}} Panathinaikos
style="text-align:center;"\| 4 \|{{flagicon\|RUS}} CSKA Moscow
rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| 3 \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Real Madrid
{{flagicon\|GRE}} Olympiacos
rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;"\| 1 \|{{flagicon\|ESP}} Baskonia
{{flagicon\|ITA}} Olimpia Milano
{{flagicon\|GER}} Bayern Munich

References

External links

[http://www.euroleague.net/ EuroLeague Official Website]
{{YouTube|user=Euroleague|title=Euroleague}}

Best Defender

Number	Country
class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center;"\| 7 \| {{flag\|Greece}}
rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| 3 \| {{flag\|United States}}
{{flag\|Cape Verde}}
rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" \| 2 \| {{flag\|Armenia}}
{{flag\|Russia}}
rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" \| 1 \| {{flag\|Gabon}}
{{flag\|Hungary}}
{{flag\|Germany}}