On Saturday, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) announced its annual individual and collective awards in anticipation of the 2024 BAL Final between Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli and Angola’s Petro de Luanda.
This announcement came 24 hours after Abou Chacra Fouad of Al Ahli Tripoli won the 2025 Coach of the Year award.
For the second time in his Basketball Africa League (BAL) career, Aliou Diarra won the Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player of the Year award, and the trophy was presented by NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady.
Diarra, a Malian international player, had a stellar campaign, helping the Rwandan champions APR secure third place in the 2025 BAL.
He averaged 17.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, and one steal in eight games this season.
In addition to his five double-doubles and a field-goal percentage of 55.6%, Diarra finished with one of the season’s highest efficiency ratings, averaging 27 points per game.
Diarra, a player who often battles to keep opponents out of the paint, never fouled out in eight games, averaging 29.7 minutes per game.
After sitting out two of APR’s six games due to health issues, Aliou Diarra delivered a standout performance in the final game of the Nile Conference.
In APR’s 77-74 win over the Nairobi City Thunder, Diarra set a BAL record with eight blocks, surpassing the previous record of seven set by Anas Mahmoud and Khaman Maluach in the 2022 and 2024 seasons, respectively.
During his first DPY-winning season, he registered eight double-doubles while helping Stade Malien reach the 2023 BAL third-place game.
BAL 2025 Awards
At the same time, Solo Diabate, a five-time BAL participant and two-time BAL champion who helped Petro de Luanda reach this year’s final, won the Manute Bol Sportsmanship Player of the Year award.
Aliou Diarra won his second Defensive Player of the Year award after winning the award in the 2023 season.
According to the league, the 2025 All-BAL Defensive First Team consists of Jean Jacques Boissy, Obadiah Noel, Caleb Agada, Taefale Lenard Jr., and Diarra.
The 2025 All-BAL Defensive Second Team comprises Childe Dundao, Mohamed Sadi, Ivan Almeida, Majok Deng, and Yossoupha Ndoye.
2025 BAL Sportsmanship Award
Petro de Luanda (Angola) guard Souleyman Diabate received The Manute Bol Trophy for exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
2025 All-BAL First Team
| Position | Player | Team |
| Guard | Jean Jacques Boissy | Alahli Tripoli (Libya) |
| Guard | Jaylen Adams | Alahli Tripoli (Libya) |
| Guard / Forward | Majok Machar Deng | Al Ittihad (Egypt) |
| Forward | Patrick Gardner Jr. | Petro de Luanda (Angola) |
| Forward / Center | Aliou Diarra | APR (Rwanda) |
2025 All-BAL Defensive Team
| Position | Player | Team |
| Guard | Jean Jacques Boissy | Alahli Tripoli (Libya) |
| Guard | Obadiah Noel | APR (Rwanda) |
| Guard / Forward | Caleb Agada | Alahli Tripoli (Libya) |
| Forward | Teafale Lenard Jr. | Made by Basketball (MBB; South Africa) |
| Forward / Center | Aliou Diarra | APR (Rwanda) |
2025 BAL Ubuntu Award
Kriol Star Basketball (Cape Verde) guard Joel Almeida won the 2025 BAL Ubuntu Award in recognition of his ongoing efforts to use the game of basketball to positively impact the lives of youth in his native Cape Verde. Over the past year, Almeida organised basketball camps and clinics that reached more than 100 aspiring players and coaches, including from underserved communities. Almeida was presented with the 2025 BAL Ubuntu Trophy during an on-court ceremony on Wednesday, June 11.
SOURCE: BAL.NBA.COM
