Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Ankara, Turkey | May 4, 1955
Nationality | Turkish |
Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
Career information | |
Playing career | 1971–1992 |
Position | Center |
Number | 13 |
Career history | |
1971–1973 | Galatasaray |
1973–1975 | Karşıyaka |
1975–1982 | Eczacıbaşı |
1982–1986 | Fenerbahçe |
1986–1987 | Beşiktaş |
1987–1988 | Paşabahçe |
1988–1992 | Tofaş |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Ahmet Efe Aydan (born May 4, 1955 in Ankara, Turkey) is a Turkish former professional basketball player. He is regarded by many as the best Turkish basketball player ever, with a total of 224 caps with the senior Turkish national team. [1] He was Turkey's national team captain in 89 games, and he scored 2,195 points with the senior Turkish national team.
With Turkey's national team, he won the gold medal at the 1981 Balkan Championship, and the gold medal at the 1987 Mediterranean Games. On the club level, he won the Turkish League championship 6 times. Aydan was also the first Turkish basketball player to play on the FIBA European Selection (the All-European Team), in 1981, where he displayed a memorable performance in a game against the Spanish ACB League club Joventut Badalona. [2] [3]
The ambitious Aydan started playing basketball in the youth ranks of Galatasaray Istanbul, when he was 16 years old. Because of his talent and ability, he was signed by Eczacibasi Istanbul, and he played with that club for several years. He earned himself a place on the FIBA European Selection (All-European Team), in 1981. He retired from playing pro club basketball in 1992, while he was a member of the Turkish club Tofas Bursa.
Aydan is often cited as being the pioneer of Turkish basketball. He has a legendary status with Turkish basketball fans, and he is generally considered to be the top Turkish basketball idol of all time. Many basketball historians believe that Aydan was a very underrated player, and that he could have been among the most well-remembered European players of his time, if he had played in a bigger EuroLeague club than the ones he played in. During his playing career, Turkish club basketball lacked in quality, which caused Aydan to be relatively unknown outside of Turkey, at the time.
Aydan became a regular player of the senior Turkish national team, as he played at the 1975 EuroBasket and 1981 EuroBasket. In both tournaments, Aydan was declared the most valuable player of the national team. He also led Turkey to their first ever international title, as they defeated Bulgaria, in the final of the Balkan Championship, in 1981, with Aydan again being the Turkish team's most valuable player.
Aydan is the son of Turkish opera singer Sevda Aydan, and the older brother of Turkish actor Ege Aydan.
Anadolu Efes Spor Kulübü, formerly known as Efes Pilsen, is a Turkish professional basketball team based in Istanbul, Turkey. Efes is the 2021–22 Euroleague champion and on the first place of European Club Ranking after the Final Four 2020–21. Efes is also the most successful club in the history of the Turkish Super League (BSL), having won the league's championship 16 times. Efes has won a total of 41 domestic trophies, more than any other Turkish basketball club.
Among all sportin Turkey, the most popular one is football. Turkey's top teams include Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş. In 2000, Galatasaray won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. Two years later, the Turkish national team finished third in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Finals in Japan and South Korea, while in 2008, the national team reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2008 competition. The Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul hosted the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, while the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul hosted the 2009 UEFA Cup Final.
Zoran Savić is a Serbian professional basketball executive and former professional player who is currently the sports director for Partizan Belgrade of the Serbian KLS, the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague. The 2.06 m tall center played in various European countries throughout his career.
Saulius Štombergas is a retired Lithuanian professional basketball player, basketball coach and businessman. Štombergas is one of the greatest Lithuanian basketball players of all time, and he was also considered to be a great team leader, as he managed to play very well under pressure, and at the end of games. He was also known for his 3-point shooting ability.
Antonio Díaz-Miguel Sanz was a Spanish professional basketball player and coach. He studied in Madrid, and graduated from the University of Bilbao.
The Turkey men's national basketball team represents Turkey in international basketball tournaments. They are governed by the Turkish Basketball Federation. Their nickname is the 12 Dev Adam, meaning 12 Giant Men.
Panagiotis "Notis" Giannakis, alternatively spelled Panayiotis Yiannakis or Yannakis, is a former Greek professional basketball player and coach. He is considered to be one of the greatest sportspeople of Greece. As a player, he was primarily a point guard, but he could also play at the shooting guard position. During his playing career, Giannakis was also widely-known under his nickname of "O Drákos", or "The Dragon" in English.
Igor Rakočević is a Serbian professional basketball executive and former player.
Theofanis "Fanis" Christodoulou is a Greek former professional basketball player. He played mainly at small forward, but his complete all-around skills allowed him to play all five positions. During his playing career, many sports journalists called him "The European Charles Barkley". While his nickname among his teammates was "Bembis" ("Baby").
Žarko Varajić was a Montenegrian basketball player and executive. He represented the Yugoslavia national team internationally.
Nikola "Nikša" Prkačin is a Croatian retired professional basketball player and coach. At a height of 2.08 m (6'10") tall, he played at the power forward and center positions. During his professional club playing career, Prkačin won seven European national domestic league championships, nine European national domestic cup titles, and one European national domestic super cup title, in 16 seasons.
Sinan Güler is a former Turkish professional basketball player.
Konstantinos "Kostas" Politis was a Greek professional basketball player and coach.
Giorgos Kolokithas was a Greek professional basketball player. He is considered one of the best scorers and players in Greek basketball history, and as a player, he had the nickname of "Basket Machine". He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991.
Minas Gekos is a Greek professional basketball coach and a retired professional basketball player. At 6' 13⁄4" in height, he played at the point guard and shooting guard positions.
Melih Mahmutoğlu is a Turkish professional basketball player and the team captain for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Basketball Super League and the EuroLeague.
Thomas Heurtel is a French professional basketball player who plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg of the VTB United League. Standing at 1.89 m, he plays at the point guard position.
Karşıyaka Basket, mostly known as Pınar Karşıyaka for sponsorship reasons, is a Turkish professional basketball team located in Karşıyaka, İzmir, that competes in the Turkish Basketball Super League. It is a section of the multi-sport club Karşıyaka SK. The team also goes by the name of KSK, which stands for Karşıyaka Spor Kulübü.
Beşiktaş Basketbol, for sponsorship reasons Beşiktaş Emlakjet is a Turkish professional basketball team from the city of İstanbul. The team formed in 1967 as the basketball section of Beşiktaş J.K., which was founded in 1903. The team competes in the Turkish Basketball Super League and in the EuroCup.
Aydan Siyavuş was a Turkish basketball coach and former basketball player. He coached a number of teams like Kadıköyspor, Eczacıbaşı, Efes Pilsen, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, Çukurova, Darüşşafaka, Karşıyaka and Galatasaray as well as the youth, junior's university and senior national teams. He was the most successful head coach of the Turkish Super Basketball League.