Fenerbahçe Basketball - Our Players and Where They're From.
Fenerbahçe Basketball - Our Players and Where They're From.
Led by head coach Dimitrios Itoudis, Fenerbahçe Beko's 18-man roster is composed of players of different backgrounds from all around the world. 8 players are of USA nationality, half of whom have dual citizenship. With the exception of four players who are still eligible for future selections, every member of the squad has entered the NBA draft at some point in their careers. Four players were chosen in the draft, and eight players played in the NBA.
Before signing with Fenerbahçe, power forward Nemanja Bjelica of Serbia played in the NBA for six seasons. The Washington Wizards selected him in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft, but he didn't make his professional debut until 2015 when he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He represented the Sacramento Kings, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Minnesota Timberwolves during his NBA career. With his ability to score, grab rebounds, and pass the ball, Bjelica is renowned for his adaptable style of play. In 2021, he joined Fenerbahçe.
The Dallas Mavericks selected American-Greek point guard Nick Calathes in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft after he played college basketball at the University of Florida. He did not, however, play in an NBA game until 2013, when he joined the Memphis Grizzlies. Before going back to play for Panathinaikos in Greece, Calathes spent two seasons as a player with the Grizzlies. He joined Fenerbahçe in 2019, and since then, he has been an important member of the squad.
American power forward Devin Booker, who went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft, played in the G League and abroad for many seasons before signing with Fenerbahçe in 2021. He hasn't played in the NBA but has had great runs in European competitions. In 2021, while playing for UNICS Kazan in Russia, he won the EuroCup MVP award. Booker is renowned for his athleticism and versatility in the field.
The Boston Celtics selected American point guard Carsen Edwards in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft. Before joining Fenerbahçe on loan in 2021, he competed in the NBA for the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. Edwards is well-known for his ability to score and shoot beyond the arc.
The team's younger players include Eren Deniz, a Turkish forward who is also eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft, and Tarik Biberovic, a Bosnia and Herzegovina guard who is eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft.
Eren Deniz is a young player who is still developing his game. He has been with Fenerbahçe since 2021 and is expected to be a key player for the team in the future. Deniz is known for his size and rebounding ability.
Tarik Biberovic is expected to be a top prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft. He joined Fenerbahçe's youth academy in 2020 and has since made his way up to the senior team. He is known for his scoring ability and athleticism.
The remaining members of Fenerbahce are: German point guard Ismet Akpinar; Athens, Greece, native and Greek-American power forward Kostas Antetokounmpo; Turkish small forward James Birsen; Turkish power forward Samet Geyik from Manisa; Serbian shooting guard Marko Guduric from Priboj; American power forward Nigel Hayes from Toledo, Ohio; Turkish shooting guard Sehmus Hazer of Batman; American-Nigerian center Tonye Jekiri of Lagos; Turkish power forward Ismail Karabilen of Istanbul; Turkish shooting guard Melih Mahmutoglu of Kadikoy; American power forward Johnathan Motley of Houston, Texas; Canadian small forward Dyshawn Pierre of Whitby; and Turkish small forward Ekrem Sancakli of Istanbul; Scottie Wilbekin, a point guard from Gainesville, Florida who is American, completes the list.
In summary, the players on Fenerbahçe's basketball team have had different paths to get to where they are now. Some have played in the NBA, while others have come up through Fenerbahçe's youth academy. However, they all bring their unique skills and abilities to the team and have contributed to its success in domestic and international competitions.
How do you think American born basketball players adjust to life in a foreign Country after their dream of playing in the NBA doesn't pan out?
This team seems to be really solid and is my dark horse to win the EuroLeague. This team also had the brightest of futures! Having young players like Carsen Edwards, a stud from Purdue, and Eren Deniz, a hyped youth prospect! Not to mention Bjelica is a dawg! He brings a winning culture from the Warriors from last year, not mention clutch shot taking, he was apart of a buzzer beat last year! If he teaches the young Fenerbahce players what takes, this team could become a powerhouse!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Carsen Edwards was great in college so it is great to see him having success With Fenerbahçe! Eren shows a lot of promise for the team as well, and having someone like Bjelica is great for overall morale and mentoring some of the younger players.
DeleteIn order to adjust to life in a foreign country, I think American players would definitely benefit by being around other American players, who are/had been in the same boat as them. The most difficult adjustment would be the language barrier, especially if they are in a country where many people don't speak English.
ReplyDeleteThe language barrier would definitely be difficult to overcome for some American athletes who are accustomed to English being the main language. Being surrounded by other English speaking teammates could help them feel more comfortable and improve on-court communication.
DeleteI think that players from the United States of America who play in EuroLeague have a very important role to the teams they play for. Individually, of course these players, some of whom have NBA-level talent, are showcasing their abilities with hopes to make more money and make it to higher levels of competition. However, more than that, I think American-born players playing in Europe show the world that European basketball is no joke. American basketball is the top of the top, so for people to see American's playing in Europe is something that can cause larger ripple effects in the international basketball scene.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! After NBA fans heard Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, and Nikola Jokić (who are all dominating the NBA) say that Euroleague basketball is harder, I think it opened a lot of eyes. The amount of American players in the Euroleague shows how competitive the environment is, and how it is not an easy transition from collegiate, or NBA basketball.
DeleteLots of familiar names here! I am very surprised by the amount of players from the USA on Fenerbahce. To answer your question, I think the adjustment is definitely difficult. I think it is important for the players to get really close with their team and their coaches so they have a strong support system to help with their adjustment. For the Americans on this team, I think it helps to have lots of other Americans with similar paths to go through the adjustment with.
ReplyDelete-Carson Trimborn
I 100% agree with you, as Americans playing Euroleague basketball go through a similar path and having players with similar backgrounds helps build chemistry, and can make the transition feel smoother.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading about Fenerbahçe Beko's diverse roster and the various backgrounds of their players. It's awesome to see players from all around the world come together to form a successful team. As for the question you posed, I think that adjusting to life in a foreign country can definitely be challenging, especially for those who had their sights set on playing in the NBA, but overtime I am sure they come to love their new home! This was a great and informative blog post, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Although growing up most basketball players have their dream set on the NBA, living in Europe is an amazing experience, and European basketball is still extremely competitive.
DeleteI like the layout of this post! I am familiar with a lot of Fenerbache's players, I almost wish I pulled their name out of the bag on the first day! Carsen Edwards was so incredible at Purdue, and it sucks that he was stuck behind elite guards in Boston (Celtics). I am glad he is getting opportunities in the Euroleague. Using him as an example, I don't think it was ever in his plans to play overseas here in Europe, and I know every players situation is different, but I wouldn't be mad if I were him. Salaries are still great, European fans are way rowdier, and while he is far from home, he is still playing basketball at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteOnce I looked up the team's roster I was also very glad that I pulled Fenerbahçe out of the bag, as I completely forgot that Carsen Edwards was playing European basketball! It goes to show that Euroleague is full of great talent, and it is definitely hard to be mad about making a good salary, playing basketball, and living in Europe.
DeleteIt's great to see Fenerbahçe Basketball's diverse roster with players from all around the world! It's interesting to note that most of the players have entered the NBA draft at some point in their careers, and it's impressive that some have played in the NBA. Nemanja Bjelica, Nick Calathes, Devin Booker, and Carsen Edwards all have interesting stories before joining Fenerbahçe, and it's exciting to see them playing for the team now. For a second I thought that Devon Booker was the same one that plays for the suns and was very surprised but now I have made the connection.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to see that so many players have entered the draft at some point, and it goes to show that every basketball player's dream is to play in the NBA. With some Fenerbahçe players having played in the NBA it shows how difficult Euroleague basketball is, as well as how difficult it is to maintain a long NBA career.
DeleteEven more so for basketball players who were born in the United States and may have grown up with a different set of cultural norms and expectations, adjusting to life abroad can be difficult I’m sure. When a person's aspiration to play in the NBA is not realized it must be a terrifying experience so I respect players that can face this challenge head on and put their best foot forwards to continue their basketball dreams.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would definitely be tough for some of these players to adjust to playing Euroleague basketball after lifelong goals of playing in the NBA. At the same time, however, these players are given a great opportunity to play competitive basketball and put their best foot forward in attempt to make it to the NBA.
DeleteAlthough in my opinion, EuroLeague players should focus on young talent more from players in Europe. I believe that it is important to also bring in talent from the NBA. It also is something very similar to the NBA so players can still fulfill their dream to play basketball at a competitive level. Also, America players can continue to play the sport. They still have the time to show their talent off. Do you think there should be an equal balance of players on the team?
ReplyDeleteI think having an equal balance of American and foreign players is a great idea. Not only does it allow both groups to feel more comfortable adjusting on a cultural/language basis, but it provides an opportunity for players to learn the way basketball is played at a professional level in Europe. The talent from the NBA helps the competitiveness of the league, and assists European players to develop and improve their overall level of play.
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