RUS - Kirilenko voted top defender in Europe by coaches

MOSCOW (Euroleague/FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - When fans look back on this season in Europe, CSKA Moscow will be lauded for making one of the most important signings in the competition.

Andrei Kirilenko penned a deal during the NBA Lockout and then decided to remain with the club for the rest of the season when the labor dispute in America ended.

The Russian superstar, who was named to the all-tournament team at EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania, has received one of the most important honors of the season after being voted as the best defender in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague by the coaches.

The 31-year-old will be presented the Best Defender Trophy during the upcoming Final Four in Istanbul.

The only player in the competition to rank in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks, it's the latter two categories that have always made the 2.06m power forward among the most feared players in basketball.

In the eight-year history of the Best Defender Trophy, Greece great Dimitrios Diamantidis of Panathinaikos has won six times.

The fact that Diamantidis is still playing his best basketball and has led the Greens into the Final Four underlines just how good Kirilenko has been.

He leads the Euroleague in rebounds (7.2 per game), blocked shots (1.87) and steals (1.53).

The MVP of EuroBasket 2007 after firing Russia to the gold medal, Kirilenko was also named as the 2007 FIBA Europe Player of the Year.

This summer, he will be in the Russia line-up that competes at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela, where three places for the London Games will be up for grabs.

FIBA