$1.4 million for one year! Diallo joins the Nuggets: last season's EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year.

On July 13, Beijing time, according to renowned reporter Shams, last season's EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year Alpha Diallo has agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Denver Nuggets. The former Providence College star and top European basketball player, at age 29, is making his NBA debut. This fully guaranteed deal will bring him to the Western Conference championship contender.

European basketball media BasketNews previously reported that the Nuggets had shown strong interest in Diallo. Diallo began his career playing one season for Lavrio in Greece, then spent five years with Monaco Basket.

In college, Diallo was twice named to the All-Big East Second Team at Providence University and went undrafted in 2020. After moving to Europe, he developed into one of the continent's elite defenders. The 29-year-old forward won the EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year award last season, after finishing third in the voting the previous year. The award is decided by votes from all EuroLeague head coaches.

In the 2025-26 season, Diallo played 42 EuroLeague games for Monaco, averaging 27.9 minutes, 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He led the entire league with 57 total steals. Among all forwards, Diallo ranked first in the league in opponent points per possession allowed (0.844). His three-point shooting percentage was 33.5% in the 2025-26 season, compared to 38.2% and 39.3% in the previous two seasons.

Diallo won three domestic French LNB Élite championships with Monaco in 2023, 2024, and 2026, and led the team to the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four.

The Nuggets currently have only nine players on standard contracts. It is reported that the team has reached verbal agreements on minimum-salary deals with Diallo, Tyrese Jones, and Marvin Bagley III, while continuing negotiations with restricted free agents Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones. Denver also holds the draft rights to second-round pick Hopkins, who has not yet signed.