Turkoglu, Ors, Turkcan, and others: Turkish basketball stars who left their mark on the republic's first century

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Mirsad Turkcan made history in 1999 as the first Turkish player in the NBA, paving the way for others to follow as he made appearances for the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks.

Türkiye has made its mark on the international basketball court over the past century.

Having produced several stars who gained global recognition during their careers, the country has secured two silver medals at the FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket as Turkish basketball players consistently demonstrate their skill, commitment, and training in their pursuit of excellence.

There have been a select few Turkish players and managers who had top-drawer careers filled with accolades and achievements.

- Mirsad Turkcan, first Turkish NBA player

Mirsad Turkcan became the first Turkish basketballer to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1999, making appearances for the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks.

The period from 1999 to 2000 was, without a doubt, the brightest in his career but his prime didn't last long, as Turkcan only played seven matches for the Knicks and 10 games for the Bucks in his career.

The forward helped Anadolu Efes win the 1996 FIBA Korac Cup title and was a key player on the Turkish national team in several international tournaments, including the EuroBasket 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003 and 2005, and the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

- Hidayet Turkoglu, Turkish b-ball legend

Hidayet Turkoglu is one of the best Turkish basketball players in history. He gained fame in a trio of teams he played for, most recently the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014-2015.

In his nearly two-decade career, the renowned player has been part of his country's national team, and in doing so, he has taken home several awards and trophies such as the 2008 NBA Most Improved Player Award and the 2001 NBA All-Rookie Team.

With Anadolu Efes, he helped the team win the 1997 Turkish Basketball Super League title, the 1997 and 1998 Turkish Cups, and the 1998 and 2000 Turkish Super Cups.

Turkoglu, who has headed the Turkish Basketball Federation since 2016, previously played for Anadolu Efes, the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, and Phoenix Suns.

In 2015, Turkoglu announced his retirement after 997 regular season matches in the NBA and 98 playoff games.

- Ergin Ataman, head coach of Panathinaikos

Ataman remains the only Turkish manager to bring Türkiye a major European basketball title, a feat inscribed in the history of sports.

Ataman, who won 23 titles during his 26-year managerial career, led Anadolu Efes to clinch EuroLeague titles twice, three Super League trophies, and three Turkish Cups.

The 56-year-old won a FIBA EuroChallenge title with Besiktas and claimed a ULEB EuroCup with Galatasaray.

The Turkish tactician also helped Italian Montepaschi Siena win the 2002 FIBA Saporta Cup.

With Ataman, Efes became the third team to ever win back-to-back EuroLeague titles, following Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2004 and 2005, and Olympiacos in 2012 and 2013.

He is currently working as head coach of Panathinaikos.

- Mehmet Okur, first Turkish player to win an NBA title

Mehmet Okur is the first Turkish player to become an All-Star in the NBA (2007) and the first Turkish player to win an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

He was named an All-Star in 2007 as a Utah Jazz player, during a season in which he racked up 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

After playing for the Pistons between 2002 and 2004, he played for the Utah Jazz (2004-2011) and the New Jersey Nets (2011-2012) in his decade with the NBA.

Okur won top-tier Turkish titles three times (1999, 2000, 2002) and the Turkish Cup four times between 1999 and 2002.

He also previously played for Turkish clubs Tofas and Anadolu Efes.

In 2012, Big Man Okur said goodbye to basketball at the age of 33.

- Ersan Ilyasova

Arguably one of the most influential Turkish basketball players of all time, Ersan Ilyasova left an indelible mark on the sport during his distinguished career.

Ilyasova made appearances for numerous NBA franchises: the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, and Utah Jazz.

The 36-year-old forward spent most of his NBA career in Milwaukee, averaging 10.1 points, 1.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in 825 NBA games.

Ilyasova helped Barcelona claim the Spanish League title and Spanish Super Cup in 2009.

In 2021, at the height of the pandemic, the Chicago Bulls signed Ilyasova to 10-day contracts under the NBA's COVID-related hardship allowance.

- Cedi Osman

Seen as one of the most skilled European forwards of his generation, Cedi Osman's vision and playmaking ability garnered him high praise from legions of fans.

Playing for Anadolu Efes between 2011 and 2017, he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round (31st overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft.

This July, Osman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs after a six-year spell with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 28-year-old holds career averages of 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 404 NBA appearances.

- Aydin Ors

Aydin Ors will always be remembered as one of the greatest Turkish coaches in history, perhaps even the best ever.

Under the helm of Ors, the Turkish national team saw the finals in EuroBasket 2001 as he patrolled the sidelines for 26 seasons in the Turkish top-tier league.

The 77-year-old legend was also the head coach of Anadolu Efes, where he clinched five Turkish top-tier titles and the 1996 Korac Cup.

He also led Fenerbahce to win the 2007 Turkish top division.