Alper Yilmaz of Efes named EuroLeague Executive of the Year euroleague.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from euroleague.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
May 13, 2021 by Euroleague.net Print
Walter Tavares s reign as the EuroLeague Best Defender award winner will continue another year as the Real Madrid center was chosen to be the recipient of the trophy in a poll of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague head coaches. Tavares, 29, was a force in the middle for Los Blancos as he led the league with 1.8 blocked shots per game. His defensive impact stretched far beyond his blocks as Tavares s presence was a constant source of intimidation for opponents, which resulted in countless close-range shots that were altered, missed or simply passed up. In fact, opponents challenged by Tavares made just 34.4% of their shots, according to Synergy Sports. That number was the best on his team and 11th in the league. Moreover, his 4.8 defensive rebounds per game led the league and sealed possessions, often allowing Real to get going in transition. Because each of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague head coaches knows ho