Super League Basketball is delighted to announce the roster for the Molten All-Defensive Team of the Year, following a voting process involving the League’s Head Coaches, Captains and select members of the media.
Headlining the roster is Leicester Riders rookie rim-protector Charles Thompson, with 17 of a possible 19 votes (captains and coaches aren’t permitted to vote for members of their own team). The 6’7″ paint presence leads the SLB Championship in blocks per game (2.5) and has been dominant for Leicester in a season where their relatively inexperienced roster has competed at the top end of the table throughout.
Josh Ward-Hibbert, a tone-setter for the Newcastle Eagles on both ends of the floor, is the second name on the roster with 12 votes. The Great Britain international’s veteran leadership and experience has been crucial for a Marc Steutel side that has won silverware domestically, securing the Trophy title back in January, and making history on the continent as they became the first British side to reach the Final Four in the European North Basketball League.
There’s plenty of height in this team of the year, that’s for sure, as London‘s Alen Hadzibegovic and Surrey‘s rookie centre Dame Adelekun also earn spots on the roster with nine and eight votes respectively. Like Thompson, both have been dominant interior presesnces on both ends of the floor for their teams this season.
Completing the line-up is Cheshire‘s Larry Austin Jr., who plays with an endless intensity on both sides of the basketball. His 1.7 steals per game in the Championship is good for third amongst all hoopers in the SLB, and he is crucial to Ben Thomas’ plans with his energy and leadership.
You can see a full voting record for the Molten All-Defensive Team of the Year below.
| Voter | Position | Club | First Choice | Second Choice | Third Choice | Fourth Choice | Fifth Choice |
| Raphell Thomas-Edwards | Captain | Bristol Flyers | Rickey McGill | Jaiden Delaire | Larry Austin Jr. | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Charles Thompson |
| Andreas Kapoulas | Coach | Bristol Flyers | Devearl Ramsey | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Jamell Anderson | Jaiden Delaire | Charles Thompson |
| Fraser Malcolm | Captain | Caledonia Gladiators | Makai Ashton-Langford | Tyler Peterson | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Charles Thompson | Alen Hadzibegovic |
| Jonny Bunyan | Coach | Caledonia Gladiators | Alen Hadzibegovic | Charles Thompson | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Jamell Anderson | Makai Ashton-Langford |
| Skyler White | Captain | Cheshire Phoenix | Makai Ashton-Langford | Rickey McGill | Dame Adelekun | Charles Thompson | Alen Hadzibegovic |
| Ben Thomas | Coach | Cheshire Phoenix | Charles Thompson | Dame Adelekun | Ade Adebayo | Alen Hadzibegovic | Jordan Ratinho |
| Conner Washington | Captain | Leicester Riders | Larry Austin Jr. | Dame Adelekun | Corey Samuels | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Donovan Clay |
| Rob Paternostro | Coach | Leicester Riders | Kendall Lewis | Makai Ashton-Langford | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Alen Hadzibegovic | Larry Austin Jr. |
| Ovie Soko | Captain | London Lions | Larry Austin Jr. | Evan Walshe | Keddy Johnson | Jamell Anderson | Charles Thompson |
| Petar Bozic | Coach | London Lions | Charles Thompson | Larry Austin Jr. | Ian DuBose | Dame Adelekun | Josh Ward-Hibbert |
| Donovan Mitchell | Captain | Manchester Basketball | Charles Thompson | Jaiden Delaire | Duke Shelton | Keddy Johnson | Tyreek Scott-Grayson |
| Herman Mandole | Coach | Manchester Basketball | Larry Austin Jr. | Mike Okauru | Ade Adebayo | Aaryn Rai | Alen Hadzibegovic |
| Darius Defoe | Captain | Newcastle Eagles | Drake Jeffries | Aaryn Rai | Mervin James | Nathan Cayo | Charles Thompson |
| Marc Steutel | Coach | Newcastle Eagles | Charles Thompson | Alen Hadzibegovic | Dame Adelekun | Tyler Peterson | Jamell Anderson |
| Rodney Glasgow Jr | Captain | Sheffield Sharks | Charles Thompson | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Ade Adebayo | Josh Steel | Larry Austin Jr. |
| Atiba Lyons | Coach | Sheffield Sharks | Charles Thompson | Alen Hadzibegovic | Makai Ashton-Langford | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Dame Adelekun |
| Tayo Ogedengbe | Captain | Surrey 89ers | Donovan Clay | Aaryn Rai | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Jamell Anderson | Corey Samuels |
| Lloyd Gardner | Coach | Surrey 89ers | Charles Thompson | Tyler Peterson | Larry Austin Jr. | Jordan Ratinho | Josh Ward-Hibbert |
| Anthony Rowe | Media | Not applicable | Charles Thompson | Ade Adebayo | Jamell Anderson | Prentiss Nixon | Dame Adelekun |
| Dan Routledge | Media | Not applicable | Charles Thompson | Alen Hadzibegovic | Dame Adelekun | Jamell Anderson | Ade Adebayo |
| Drew Lasker | Media | Not applicable | Charles Thompson | Josh Ward-Hibbert | Ade Adebayo | Jordan Ratinho | Jamell Anderson |
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