The Denver Nuggets have added one of Europe’s premier defensive wings, agreeing to a one-year, $1.4 million guaranteed contract with reigning EuroLeague Defender of the Year Alpha Diallo, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal was negotiated by agents Jared Mucha and Javon Phillips of Excel Sports Management.
Diallo, 29, makes the leap to the NBA after establishing himself as one of the EuroLeague’s top two-way players with AS Monaco. The 6-foot-7 forward earned EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year honors following a standout 2025-26 campaign in which he averaged 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while helping Monaco remain among Europe’s elite clubs.
Before beginning his professional career overseas, Diallo starred at Providence, where he was a two-time Second Team All-Big East selection and averaged 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds across four collegiate seasons. After going undrafted in 2020, he spent six years developing in Europe, becoming one of the continent’s most respected perimeter defenders.
For Denver, the signing represents another low-risk move aimed at bolstering the team’s defensive depth around franchise cornerstone Nikola Jokić. Diallo’s versatility, length, and defensive instincts could earn him an immediate opportunity to carve out a role on a Nuggets team with championship aspirations in the Western Conference.
At just $1.4 million on a guaranteed one-year contract, the Nuggets are betting that Diallo’s elite defensive reputation overseas can translate to the NBA, potentially giving Denver one of the offseason’s best value signings.
