Sasha Vezenkov, Thomas Walkup win ELPA's MVP, Best Defender awards / News - Basketnews.com

The EuroLeague Players' Association has crowned its season MVP in Sasha Vezenkov and Best Defender in Thomas Walkup. Yam Madar was named Best Young Player.

Credit: Stefanos Kyriazis/ZUMA Press Wire Credit Stefanos Kyriazis/ZUMA Press Wire

The EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA) announced the winners of the third edition of its annual Players' Choice Awards. Winners in each category are players who received the biggest majority of votes, voted exclusively by the EuroLeague players.

Yam Madar

MIN:13.35PTS:5.82 (53.21%)REB:1.18As:1.58ST:0.61BL:0.18TO:0.76GM:38ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

In the latest and last installment, the MVP, Best Defender, and Best Young Player have been revealed.

Partizan Mozzart Bet's young star Yam Madar has won the Best Young Player award of the season. Yam Madar averaged 5.8 points, 1.6 assists and 1.2 rebounds this season.

Olympiacos Piraeus star Sasha Vezenkov was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Season (MVP) award. Vezenkov averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists, for an average 21.5 in PIR.

Another Olympiacos' player, Thomas Walkup, was awarded the Best Defender award. Walkup averaged 7.3 points, 5.6 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals.

The full list of ELPA awards is as follows:

1. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Sasha Vezenkov (47.4% of votes)

"Best performing individual with the biggest impact on his team’s overall play."

2. BEST DEFENDER: Thomas Walkup (43.9% of votes)

"Most dominant defensive player with the biggest impact on his team's defensive play."

3. BEST YOUNG PLAYER: Yam Madar (47.4% of votes)

"Best performing young player (U-22)."

4. BEST 6TH MAN: Kostas Sloukas (38.6% of votes)

"A player that started more than half of EuroLeague regular season games from the bench and had the biggest impact on his team’s overall play."

5. MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Nigel Hayes-Davis (42.1% of votes)

"A player that has shown the biggest improvement from his previous EuroLeague season."

6. BEST NEWCOMER: Darius Thompson (52.6% of votes)

"Best performing individual who played his first season in EuroLeague."

7. MOST CLUTCH PLAYER: Sergio Llull (47.4% of votes)

"A player that best performed under pressure and when the games were on the line."

8. MOST RESPECTED PLAYER”: Kyle Hines (61.4% of votes)

"A player who earned most respect amongst his peers and embodied a true role model, on and off the court."

9. 2023 ELPA Players’ Choice Award “FAIR PLAY”: Luke Sikma (36.8% of votes)

"A player with exemplary behavior towards opponents and referees, promoting the spirit of fair play."

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