By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Like the EuroLeague, Eurohoops “awards” each season’s best players and we continue with the EuroLeague Best Defender for 2017-18.
Read about the candidates and vote in Eurohoops’ poll.
Nick Calathes
Panathinaikos | Guard | 1.98 | 07/02/1989 | Greece
14.2 points | 3.9 rebounds | 8.1 assists | 1.8 steals | 0 blocks | 2.3 turnovers | 28:55 minutes | 18.4 PIR
Panathinaikos’s season carries Nick Calathes signature and how could it be otherwise when it’s been his most productive in the EuroLeague in both of his stints at the team (2009-2012, 2015-today). However, the 29-year-old Greek guard is not only doing great in terms of organization and execution. His average of 1.8 steals puts him ahead of everyone else in the competition and at the very least proves his talent in defense as well, which cannot be fully reflected in the stats.
Bryant Dunston
Anadolu Efes | Center | 2.03 | 28/05/1986 | USA
10.2 points | 5.4 rebounds | 1.3 assists | 0.7 steals | 1.7 blocks | 1 turnover | 28:10 minutes | 15.5 PIR
With two – and, in fact, back-to-back – awards in 2014 and 2015, Bryant Dunston and his defensive skills need no introduction. The 32-year-old American center was first in rebounds for Anadolu Efes (3.4) and 16th overall, while he completed the regular season as the best blocker with 1.7, also a career high in five seasons in the competition.
James Gist
Panathinaikos | Forward | 2.06 | 26/10/1986 | USA
10.1 points | 4.5 rebounds | 1.1 assists | 0.9 steals | 0.5 blocks | 1.1 turnovers | 25:50 minutes | 11.1 PIR
His impressive dunks have made James Gist stand out for several years now, but obviously, that’s not the only characteristic of his game. The 32-year-old American forward is known for his defensive skills as well, which he has been demonstrating more than amply this season, contributing greatly to Panathinaikos finishing the regular season with the 3rd best record of conceded points.
Kyle Hines
CSKA Moscow | Center | 1.98 | 02/09/1986 | USA
8.2 points | 4.2 rebounds | 1.2 assists | 1.1 steals | 0.8 blocks | 0.4 turnovers | 21:42 minutes | 11.8 PIR
Kyle Hines is one of those players who always stood out, not just for his size in relation to his position but his effectiveness on both ends of the court. He has already been rewarded once for his defensive skills (2016), which he put on display for CSKA Moscow this season with the career-high average of 1.1 steals, while he also leads his team in blocks.
Kostas Papanikolaou
Olympiacos | Forward | 2.04 | 31/07/1990 | Greece
8.2 points | 4.5 rebounds | 2.2 assists | 1 steal | 0.3 blocks | 1.5 turnovers | 24:29 minutes | 11.5 PIR
Olympiacos finished the regular season with the second-best defense and Kostas Papanikolaou is credited with a large share of this success. The 28-year-old Greek forward was second in defensive rebounds (3.5) and first in steals for his team in these 30 rounds, so maybe it’s not a coincidence that in the last five games, which he missed, Olympiacos suffered four defeats.
Brad Wanamaker
Fenerbahce | Guard | 1.93 | 25/07/1989 | USA
11.4 points | 2.6 rebounds | 3.9 assists | 1.3 steals | 0.1 blocks | 1.5 turnovers | 26:32 minutes | 12.7 PIR
The characterization of ‘combo guard’ has accompanied Brad Wanamaker throughout his career, but his game is not limited to everything he can do well in the offense. The 29-year-old American is also known for his defensive skills, which he demonstrated on the court this season with the sixth highest average in steals in the competition and the highest by far in Fenerbahce.