Efe Aydan
Encyclopedia
Efe Aydan is a Turkish
former professional basketball
player. He is widely regarded as the best Turkish basketball player ever with 224 caps for the national team
, he was the captain in 89 games and scored 2195 points. He won the TBL
6 times, the Balkan Championship once and the Mediterranean Games
once. Aydan is also the first Turkish basketball player to be selected for the All-European team in 1981 where he displayed a memorable performance against Joventut Badalona
. Efe Aydan was a role model with the exemplary personality and sportsmanship he displayed throughout his career. Not to mention the outstanding talent with which he graced the courts. He shone for both national team and club teams reaching milestones and accomplishments most can only dream of.
when he was 16 years old. Because of his talent he was discovered by Eczacıbaşı Holding
and played there for a couple of years. Aydan became a regular player for the Turkish national team as he participated at EuroBasket 1975
and EuroBasket 1981
, in both tournaments Aydan was declared as the most valuable player of the national team. His solid play earned him a place in the All-European team in 1981. Turkey also won their first ever international title as they defeated Greece
in the final of the Balkan Championship in 1981 with Aydan again being the most valuable player. He retired in 1991 while playing for Tofaşspor
.
opera
singer Sevda Aydan and older brother of Turkish actor Ege Aydan.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He is widely regarded as the best Turkish basketball player ever with 224 caps for the national team
Turkey national basketball team
The Turkish national basketball team is the basketball section that represents Turkey in international competitions. The team is nicknamed "12 Dev Adam" ....
, he was the captain in 89 games and scored 2195 points. He won the TBL
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
6 times, the Balkan Championship once and the Mediterranean Games
Basketball at the Mediterranean Games
Basketball has been played consistently at the Mediterranean Games since the year 1951 for men and since the year 1987 for women. The Yugoslavian national basketball team is the most successful men's team and the Croatian women's national basketball team is the most successful team for women.-Men's...
once. Aydan is also the first Turkish basketball player to be selected for the All-European team in 1981 where he displayed a memorable performance against Joventut Badalona
Joventut Badalona
Club Joventut Badalona, S.A.D. is a Spanish professional basketball club based in Badalona, Catalonia, playing in the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto . Known to their fans as La Penya , it is one of only three teams that have never been relegated from the top division of the Spanish League...
. Efe Aydan was a role model with the exemplary personality and sportsmanship he displayed throughout his career. Not to mention the outstanding talent with which he graced the courts. He shone for both national team and club teams reaching milestones and accomplishments most can only dream of.
Pro career
The ambitious Aydan started playing basketball in the youth ranks of GalatasarayGalatasaray Café Crown
Galatasaray Medical Park is a professional basketball team based in the city of Istanbul in Turkey. It is a part of the Galatasaray Sports Club.Galatasaray play matches in Abdi İpekçi Arena which has a seating capacity for 12,500 spectators...
when he was 16 years old. Because of his talent he was discovered by Eczacıbaşı Holding
Eczacibasi
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a prominent Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942 by Eczacıbaşı family. The group with 39 companies has 10,100 employees and a combined net turnover of € 2.1 billion in 2010.-Group:...
and played there for a couple of years. Aydan became a regular player for the Turkish national team as he participated at EuroBasket 1975
EuroBasket 1975
-Group A - Split:-Group B - Karlovac:-Group C - Rijeka:-Places 7 - 12:-Places 1 - 6 in Belgrade:-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # -Team rosters:...
and EuroBasket 1981
EuroBasket 1981
The 1981 FIBA European Basketball Championship, commonly called EuroBasket 1981, was the 22nd regional championship held by FIBA Europe. The competition was hosted by Czechoslovakia and took place from May 26 to June 5, 1981...
, in both tournaments Aydan was declared as the most valuable player of the national team. His solid play earned him a place in the All-European team in 1981. Turkey also won their first ever international title as they defeated Greece
Greece national basketball team
The Greece national basketball team is the representative for Greece in international men's basketball competitions, organized and run by the Hellenic Basketball Federation. Traditionally, Greece is considered among the world's top basketball powers; they were runners-up in the 2006 FIBA World...
in the final of the Balkan Championship in 1981 with Aydan again being the most valuable player. He retired in 1991 while playing for Tofaşspor
Tofas S.K.
Tofaş Spor Kulübü known simply as Tofaş is a professional basketball team based in the city of Bursa in Turkey that plays in the Turkish Basketball League. Their home arena is the Bursa Atatürk Sport Hall with a capacity of 3,500 seats.The club sponsored by Tofaş Company...
.
Domestic fame
Aydan is often cited as the pioneer of Turkish basketball, he has a legendary status for Turkish basketball fans and is considered as the Turkish basketball hero of all times. Many believe that Aydan was a very underrated player and could have been amongst the best players in European basketball. Turkish basketball was lacking professionalism causing Aydan to be relatively unknown outside Turkey at the time.Personal
He is son of TurkishTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer Sevda Aydan and older brother of Turkish actor Ege Aydan.
Career and achievements
- 1971-73
Turkey GalatasarayGalatasaray Café CrownGalatasaray Medical Park is a professional basketball team based in the city of Istanbul in Turkey. It is a part of the Galatasaray Sports Club.Galatasaray play matches in Abdi İpekçi Arena which has a seating capacity for 12,500 spectators... - 1973-75 Turkey KarşıyakaPinar KarsiyakaPınar Karşıyaka is a professional basketball team based in the city of İzmir in Turkey. It is a section of the Karşıyaka SK. The team was sponsored by Pınar since 1998. It is the product of Yasar Holding's Food and Beverage Group....
- 1975-82 Turkey EczacıbaşıEczacibasiEczacıbaşı Holding is a prominent Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942 by Eczacıbaşı family. The group with 39 companies has 10,100 employees and a combined net turnover of € 2.1 billion in 2010.-Group:...
- 1982-86 Turkey FenerbahçeFenerbahçe ÜlkerFenerbahçe Ülker is the professional men's basketball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major multisport club based in Istanbul, Turkey. The department has been sponsored by the Ülker since 2006. In 2006 Fenerbahçe S.K...
- 1986-87 Turkey BeşiktaşBesiktas Cola TurkaBeşiktaş Milangaz is a professional basketball team of Beşiktaş J.K., which is a sports club from İstanbul, Turkey. Their home arena is the Sinan Erdem Dome with a capacity of 16,000 seats...
- 1987-88 Turkey Paşabahçe
- 1988-92 Turkey TofaşsporTofas S.K.Tofaş Spor Kulübü known simply as Tofaş is a professional basketball team based in the city of Bursa in Turkey that plays in the Turkish Basketball League. Their home arena is the Bursa Atatürk Sport Hall with a capacity of 3,500 seats.The club sponsored by Tofaş Company...