The Belgian Prayer of the Year (Belgische Speler van het Jaar in Dutch) is an annual Basketball League Belgium Division I award given to the best player with a Belgian nationality. The award is organized by the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.
The first award was given after the 1958-59 season. From the 1974-75 season, the award is also given to woman.
Between 1981 and 1994, Rik Samaey won the award for a record of ten times.
Winners Season Men Position Team Women Team Ref(s) 1958–59 Antwerpse 1959–60 Brabo 1960–61 (2×) Antwerpse 1961–62 Antwerpse 1962–63 (3×) Antwerpse 1963–64 (4×) Antwerpse 1964–65 R.C. Mechelen 1965–66 (2×) R.C. Mechelen 1966–67 (3×) R.C. Mechelen 1967–68 Pitzemburg Basket 1968–69 R.C. Mechelen 1969–70 (4×) Standard Liège 1970–71 Bus Lier 1971–72 Bus Lier 1972–73 R.C. Mechelen 1973–74 Antwerpse 1974–75 (2×) Bus LierEwa WasiliewskaCharles Quint Fémina 1975–76 (2×) AntwerpseLieve VerbruggenAmicale Merelbeke 1976–77 (3×) Standard LiègeHilde Van BoxelaerAmicale Merelbeke 1977–78 VerviersEwa Wasiliewska (2x)Charles Quint Fémina 1978–79 Fresh AirMonique SuppeleyBC Koksijde 1979–80 (2×) VerviersEwa Wasiliewska (3x)Charles Quint Fémina 1980–81 OostendeLieve Verbruggen (2x)Amicale Merelbeke 1981–82 (2×) OostendeSonja TankreyBC Koksijde 1982–83 (3×) OostendeNathalie DesplatCharles Quint Fémina 1983–84 (4×) OostendeAnnelies BressinckSpartacus Antwerpen 1984–85 (5×) OostendeDanielle De WandeleerMonceau Féminin 1985–86 (6×) R.C. MechelenAnnelies Bressinck (2x)Spartacus Antwerpen 1986–87 (7×) R.C. MechelenInez CreemersOsiris Denderleeuw 1987–88 (8×) R.C. MechelenClaudia Van HorenbeeckAmicale Gent 1988–89 (9×) R.C. MechelenMartine SeverensOsiris Denderleeuw 1989–90 R.C. MechelenCaroline De RooseMiniflat Waregem 1990–91 /R.C. MechelenMarina PiccardSaint-Servais BC 1991–92 (2×) /R.C. MechelenCathy PopulaireSaint-Servais BC 1992–93 Leuven BearsPascale Van RoySaint-Servais BC 1993–94 (10×) R.C. MechelenIlse NuytensSoubry Kortrijk 1994–95 OostendeIlse Nuytens (2x)Soubry Kortrijk 1995–96 Spirou CharleroiJehanne DetrySoubry Kortrijk 1996–97 (2×) OostendeJehanne Detry (2x)Soubry Kortrijk 1997–98 Spirou CharleroiMarie-An CaersDexia Namur 1998–99 (2×) Spirou CharleroiNele DeyaertDexia Namur 1999–00 Racing Basket AntwerpenMarie-An Caers (2x)Dexia Namur 2000–01 Telindus OostendeKathy WambéDexia Namur 2001–02 /Telindus OostendeKathy Wambé (2x)Dexia Namur 2002–03 Spirou CharleroiMarie-An Caers (3x)Dexia Namur 2003–04 (2×) Spirou CharleroiEvelien CallensTulikivi Deerlijk 2004–05 (2×) Euphony BreeMarie-An Caers (4x)IMC Dames Waregem 2005–06 (3×) Telindus OostendeSofie HendrickxSint-Katelijne-Waver 2006–07 Telindus OostendeNele DeyaertDexia Namur 2007–08 (2×) Base BC OostendeNele Deyaert (2x)IMC Dames Waregem 2008–09 (2×) /Antwerp Diamond GiantsNele Deyaert (3x)Declercq Stortbeton Waregem BC 2009–10 (3×) /Antwerp Diamond GiantsSofie Hendrickx (2x)Sint-Katelijne-Waver 2010–11 (3×) Antwerp Diamond GiantsEmma MeessemanBlue Cats Ieper 2011–12 Generali Okapi AalstarEmma Meesseman (2x)Blue Cats Ieper 2012–13 (4×) Port of Antwerp GiantsHind Ben AbdelkaderSint-Katelijne-Waver 2013–14 Port of Antwerp GiantsMarjorie CarpréauxCastors Braine 2014–15 Telenet OostendeKim MestdaghCastors Braine 2015–16 /Telenet OostendeJulie AllemandCastors Braine 2016–17 /Crelan Okapi AalstarAntonia DelaereCastors Braine 2017–18 /OostendeLaure RésimontSint-Katelijne-Waver 2018–19 Antwerp GiantsLaure Résimont (2x)Sint-Katelijne-Waver 2019–20 (2x) Antwerp GiantsBillie MasseySint-Katelijne-Waver 2020–21 OostendeBillie Massey (2x)Sint-Katelijne-Waver 2021–22 Kangoeroes Basket MechelenMaxuella LisowaCastors Braine 2022–23 (2x) OostendeNastja ClaessensION Waregem 2023–24 (3x) OostendeLaure Résimont (3x)Kangoeroes Mechelen 2024–25 Kortrijk SpursMarie VervaetCastors Braine
Awards by player Player TotalYearsRik Samaey 1981-1989, 1994Jef Eygel 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964Willy Steveniers 1965-1967, 1970Roel Moors 2003, 2004, 2011, 2013Etienne Geerts 1974, 1976, 1977Jean-Marc Jaumin 1995, 1997, 2006Christophe Beghin 2002, 2009, 2010Pierre-Antoine Gillet 2015, 2023, 2024Robert Van Herzele 1996, 1999François Huysmans 1978, 1980Éric Struelens 1991, 1992Jaques Stas 1996, 1999Yves Dupont 2000, 2005Sam Van Rossom 2007, 2008Hans Vanwijn 2019, 2020
Notes
References
Basketball most valuable player awards