We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we’re going to talk about basketball in Turkey.
Population: 83.2 mln
Players in the history of League: 1
Full list of players: Cemal Nalga
Cemal Nalga was the only Turkish player in VTB United League. Born in Izmir, he started professional career in Tuborg Pilsener in 2003. In 2005, he won silver medals of Eurobasket U18, and was transferred from Alba to Lietuvos Rytas.
With Lietuvos Rytas, the forward played 10 VTB United League games with an average of 3.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. Nalga has been playing in Turkish league since 2011. He switched 9 teams in 9 years and won the league in 2015 with Pinar Karsiyaka.
Basketball in Turkey
League: Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL)
Founded: 1966
Number of teams: 15
League’s web-site: http://www.bsl.org.tr/
Turkish league was founded in 1966, and 16 teams have been in the finals since then, while 11 won the the title. The most successful clubs are Anadolu Efes (14 titles), Fenerbahce (8 titles) and Eczacibasi (7 titles).
15 teams will represent 6 cities in 2020/21 season of the league. Istanbul has the most number of clubs (6). There is also Turkish Cup.
10 Turkish clubs will play in European leagues: Fenerbahce and Anadolou in Euroleague, Bahcesehir and Bursaspor in Eurocup, Darussaffaka, Galatasaray, Pinar Karsiyaka, Rofas and Turk Telecom in Champions league, and Besiktas in FIBA Europe Cup.
Fenerbahce is the only Turkish club to win Euroleague (2017), while Galatasaray and Darussaffaka won Eurocup (2016 and 2018).
After the final series, Finals MVP award is given. Ex-CSKA player and VTB League champions Jamont Gordon won the award in 2012/13.
A number of Russian atheletes have played in Turkish league like Viktor Berezhnoy (Midonos Kolezliyor 1991-93, 1995-98; PTT 1993-95; Turk Telecom 1998-99), Sergey Bazarevich (Yildimspor 1992-93, Tofas 1993-94, Turk Telecom 1997-98), Vasily Karasev (Efes Pilsen 1996-97), Zakhar Pashutin (Pinar Karsiyaka 1999-00), Vitaly Nosov (Darussaffaka 1999-00) and Fedor Likholitov (Besiktas 2009-11).
Interesting fact
On November 29, 2019, Shane Larkin of Anadolou Efes set Euroleague’s points per game highest result. In a game against Bayern, the guard scored 49 points with 15/19 field goals, 10/12 three-pointers and 9/10 free throws.
Turkey National team
FIBA rank: 15
FIBA members: since 1936
Achievements: World Cup silver (2010), Eurobasket silver (2001)
Turkey joined FIBA in 1936. The same year, the team played its first official game against Greece (won 49:12) and set off to the Olympics where they lost both matches (16:30 from Chile and 23:33 from Egypt).
Turkey made its Eurobasket debut in 1949, and countrie’s first World Cup appearance happened as late as 2002. Turkey participated in 24 Eurobaskets, 5 World Cups and 2 Olympic Games.
The team’s been successful at home events. At 2001 Eurobasket, Turkey won silver medals after beating Latvia (85:82), Spain (84:79), Croatia (87:85) and Germany (79:78). In 2010, Turkey won World Cup silver medals. Before the final game lost to the USA (64:81), the team won all 8 games: 86:47 vs Cote d’Ivoire, 65:56 vs Russia, 76:65 vs Greece, 79:77 vs Puerto Rico, 87:40 vs China, 95:77 vs France, 95:68 vs Slovenia and 83:82 vs Serbia. Both times, team’s leader Hedo Turkoglu was in all-event teams.
Furthermore, Turkey hosted 1959 Eurobasket and part of the games in 2017.
Today Turkey is ranked 15th in FIBA world rating (11th among European teams).
Most famous Turkish players in history
Hedo Turkoglu. World Cup silver, Eurobasket silver. Turkish player with the most seasons played (15), games played (997) and points scored (11022) in the NBA. The best progressing player of 2008 NBA season. Champion of Turkey, 2-time winner of Cup of Turkey. Since 2016, Turkoglu has been president of Turkish basketball federation.
Mehmet Okur. NBA champion, Eurobasket silver, 3-time Turkish league winner, 4-time Cup of Turkey winner. In 2007, Okur became the first Turkish to take part in NBA’s All-Star Game. Has a total of 10 seasons, 8561 points in 634 games in the NBA.
Ersan Ilyasova. World Cup silver, champion of Spain, Spanish Supercup and Cup of Turkey. 12 seasons in the NBA with 8299 points in 808 games. Currently in Milwaukee Bucks, the best team in 2019/20 NBA regular season.
Mirsad Turkan. NBA 1998 draft number 18, Eurobasket silver, 8-time champion of Turkey, champion of Russia and 6-time Cup of Turkey winner. MVP of 2002 Euroleague regular season and Top-16 of 2003. In 2012, Fenerbahce retired Turkan’s jersey playing number (#12). Recognized as Euroleague Legend in 2017.
Enes Kanter. NBA 2011 draft number 3, MVP and bronze of Eurobasket U18 in 2009. 9 seasons in the NBA with 7415 points in 641 games. Currently plays for Boston Celtics.
Dmitriy Kolinov
