London Lion Tarik Phillip wins Molten Defensive Player of the Year title

Super League Basketball is delighted to announce the winner of the Molten Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2025/26 season, following a voting process involving the League’s Head Coaches, Captains and select members of the media.

London Lions floor general Tarik Phillip has won this year’s crown. The Great Britain international has proven a menace negating the primary ball-handlers of London’s opponents, and set the tone for the team on the defensive end in particular.

Phillip’s success in securing this award sees the 32-year-old add to his Molten All-Defensive Team of the Year selection which was confirmed last week, as the 6’3” Lions star was named to that roster alongside fellow London duo Deane Williams and Chaundee Brown Jr.

Coach Tautvydas Sabonis’ side have been by far the sternest defensive outfit in SLB this season, holding teams to just 73.5 points per game on average, almost 10 points less than the next best defensive team, with Phillip proving a key part of that identity.

Lions Head Coach Tautvydas Sabonis added:

“I’m very happy for Tarik to have won Molten Defensive Player of the Year. When he wants to, he’s a psychopath on defence, he can bump, break everything up, he can switch, he fronts, he’s tenacious, got quick hands, he’s aggressive, that dog mentality, he can really disrupt the games and really take players out of their rhythm.  That’s a lot of credit to him and his tenacity.

“One of the three, I thought had to win it; him, CB (Chaundee Brown Jr) or Deane Williams. They were all worthy winners but Tarik took it, because he’s disruptive, he does what we ask, he’s a heck of player, very important to us and I’m glad he won it.”

You can see the full voting record for the Molten Defensive Player of the Year below.

Voters were asked to choose their top three selections for the award, with the first choice earning three points, the second choice two points and the third choice one point, with the player who accrues the most points overall winning the award.

VoterPositionClubFirst ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird Choice
Owen McCormackCaptainBristol FlyersMichael GrahamRia’n HollandMatthew Nicholson
Andreas KapoulasCoachBristol FlyersDeane Williamsisiah SmallCole Long
Fraser MalcolmCaptainCaledonia GladiatorsTarik Phillip LaQuincy RideauMichael Graham
Jonny BunyanCoachCaledonia GladiatorsTarik Phillip Joel ScottIsiah Small
Skyler WhiteCaptainCheshire PhoenixMichael GrahamTim AdetukasiCole Long
Ben ThomasCoachCheshire PhoenixEthan PriceZach AndersonCole Long
Spencer JohnsonCaptainLeicester RidersHaydn LingDeane WilliamsLaQuincy Rideau
Rob PaternostroCoachLeicester RidersTarik Phillip Deane WilliamsChaundee Brown Jr.
Ovie SokoCaptainLondon LionsMitch ClarkeDeion HammondCole Long
Tautvydas SabonisCoachLondon LionsMichael GrahamTobias CameronZak Irvin
Zak IrvinCaptainManchester BasketballTarik Phillip isiah SmallDeane Williams
Matthew OttenCoachManchester BasketballTarik Phillip Chaundee Brown Jr.Michael Graham
Darius DefoeCaptainNewcastle EaglesChaundee Brown Jr.Tarik PhillipMatthew Nicholson
Marc SteutelCoachNewcastle EaglesDeane WilliamsTarik PhillipMatthew Nicholson
Rodney Glasgow Jr.CaptainSheffield SharksTarik Phillip Cam HoldenChaundee Brown Jr.
Atiba LyonsCoachSheffield SharksChaundee Brown Jr.Tarik PhillipDeane Williams
Tayo OgedengbeCaptainSurrey 89ersTarik Phillip Kyle CareyMatthew Nicholson
Lloyd GardnerCoachSurrey 89ersChaundee Brown Jr.Deane WilliamsZak Irvin
Anthony RoweMediaNot applicableTarik Phillip Gabe OsabuohienLaQuincy Rideau
Dan RoutledgeMediaNot applicableGabe OsabuohienTarik PhillipLaQuincy Rideau
Drew LaskerMediaNot applicableDeane WilliamsTarik PhillipGabe Osabuohien

Further end-of-season award winners will be announced in the coming days and don’t forget you can watch all the action from Sunday’s season-ending Play-off Final at The O2, London, and stay up to date via our social media channels by clicking here.