2026 ENBL Defensive Player of the Year: Dimitrios Rafail Moraitis, Iraklis BC

Dimitrios Rafail Moraitis is the 2026 European North Basketball league`s Defensive Player of the Year.

Iraklis BC captain led his team to a 7-1 record and advanced to the 2026 playoffs.

He entered the floor in seven games, averaging 7.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 3.6 steals in 29.0 minutes of playing time.

Dimitrios Moraitis was born on February 3, 1999, and initially played for Panionios Athens youth teams.

On July 20, 2015, he signed a six year contract with AEK Athens.

He debuted in the Greek Basketball league at the age of 16 and scored his first points at the age of 17.

Moraitis was loaned to Kolossos Rodos during the 2019-2020 season, and later played for Peristeri (2021-2023) and Panathinaikos Athens (2023-2025).

Guard won Euroleague with Panathinaikos (2024) and the Basketball Champions league with AEK (2018), as well as the FIBA Intercontinental Cup (2019).

Moraitis is a Greek Basketball league champion (2024) and a two time Greek Cup winner (2018, 2025).

Guard has represented Greece at the FIBA U16, U18 and U20 European championships, totaling 41 games.

Moraitis has played at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines and at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

His Olympic debut took place on August 2, 2024 in a 77-71 win against Australia at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille.

Greece eventually finished in the eighth place.

The other nominees: Matthew Nicholson (Manchester Basketball), Akeem Vargas (SYNTAINICS MBC), Tudor Girbea (CSO Voluntari), Kelby Kramer (SIGAL Prishtina).