Mangok Mathiang wins the 2026 BAL Defensive Player of the Year award

Mangok Mathiang of the RSSB Tigers has won the 2026 BAL Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player of the Year award.

The South-Sudanese-Australian player played a pivotal role in helping his team reach the BAL Final.

Mathiang received the award minutes before the 2026 BAL Final between his RSSB Tigers vs Petro de Luanda.

Over the course of the first eight games, the 2.11 m player averaged 17 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block per game.

This was the 33-year-old’s first experience of the BAL.

Previous winners of the BAL Defensive Player of the Year award include Anas Mahmoud (Zamalek, 2021), Ater Majok (US Monastir, 2022), Aliou Diarra (Stade Malien, 2023; APR, 2025) and Jo Lual Acuil (Al Ahly, 2024).

BAL