The Basketball Africa League Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player of the Year is an annual Basketball Africa League (BAL) award given to the best defensive player of a given season. The award is named after Congolese basketball legend Dikembe Mutombo. The award was first handed out in the inaugural season to Anas Osama Mahmoud.[1]
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| League | Basketball Africa League |
| Awarded for | Best defensive player in the season of the Basketball Africa League |
| History | |
| First award | 2021 |
| Most wins | 4 players (1 each) |
| Most recent | Jo Lual-Acuil, Al Ahly Ly (2024) |
Players of the four teams that qualified for the semifinals can be selected. The selection committee exists of a number of BAL experts, including the head coaches of all teams.
Jo Lual-Acuil, winner of the award in 2024, is the only player to win both the Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player in the same season.[2]
Winners
edit
| Season | Player | Position | Nationality | Club | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Anas Mahmoud | Center |  Egypt
|
Zamalek
|
[1] |
| 2022 | Ater Majok | Center |  South Sudan[a]
|
 US Monastir
|
[3] |
| 2023 | Aliou Diarra | Center |  Mali
|
Stade Malien
|
[4] |
| 2024 | Jo Lual-Acuil | Center | South Sudan
|
 Al Ahly Ly
|
[2] |
Notes
edit- ^ Majok owns the Australian and Lebanese nationality, but played as an African import in the BAL due to his South Sudanese heritage.
References
edit- ^ a b "Zamalek are the champions of the inaugural Basketball Africa League". The BAL. 30 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Acuil-Jr. dominates 2024 BAL Awards". The BAL. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "US Monastir are the 2022 Basketball Africa League Champions". The BAL. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ "DIARRA, OMOT, GUEYE, PERRY HIGHLIGHT 2023 BAL AWARDS". The BAL. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.