By Bugra Uzar/ buzar@eurohoops.net
The BKT EuroCup’s new season has started with the same excitement as always, and with a team that made waves back in 2016 making a triumphant return so far. Indeed, Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul is back with a bang!
We are talking about a club that has won championship trophies in Turkiye and Europe, produced numerous talents for both the Turkish national team and global basketball, and, at more than 100 years old, is among Turkey’s oldest and most prestigious clubs.
The black-and-white club had been distant from the upper echelons of basketball for a while. The disappointment from previous seasons for a club that once had iconic names Deron Williams, Allen Iverson, and Carlos Arroyo, on the roster – and more recently, Alperen Sengun – was heart-wrenching.
EuroLeague-level ambitions
This summer, Besiktas made significant changes, not only to eliminate this disappointment but also to become contenders again in both Turkiye and Europe.
One of the most notable moves is the club’s return to the BKT EuroCup.
General manager Nedim Yucel, who took charge of the team this summer, didn’t hide the fact that the club has set its sights high: “Our biggest dream is for Besiktas to return to the EuroLeague, and that’s why we joined the EuroCup in pursuit of this dream.”
And Besiktas wasted no time proving their determination by bringing in Dusan Alimpjevic, one of the most promising young coaches in European basketball. Despite being just 31 years old, Alimpjevic had already made a name for himself in the EuroLeague. In his career, he worked wonders with Bursaspor in the EuroCup on a modest budget, earning the Coach of the Year award.
It’s clear that Alimpjevic’s name will be heard more in European basketball in the coming years. With his warrior-like mentality, he is striving to take Besiktas to new heights, and considering the team’s fantastic 3-0 start to the EuroCup season, it seems they are well on their way to achieving that.
Looking at Besiktas’s foreign transfers during the summer, they stand out for their potential to elevate themselves to the EuroLeague level. Players like Jonah Mathews and Matt Mitchell, who have excelled in the past, have joined the team. Moreover, Angel Delgado, who had an impressive season with Pınar Karsıyaka last year, is set to be a star under the basket for Besiktas this season.
These three players have also successfully combined with Turkish basketball talents like Yigit Arslan, Berkan Durmaz, Berk Ugurlu and Egehan Arna. Besiktas’s young prospects Samet Yigitoglu and Kerem Kuthan Konan, are players Turkish basketball has high hopes for. It’s entirely possible that just like Alperen Sengun and Sehmus Hazer before them, these two talents may follow a path to the EuroLeague or the NBA after donning the Besiktas jersey. Or even better, they could remain part of the club’s ambitious future.
An electric start by “14 warriors”
Besiktas is off to an undefeated start in Group A after three weeks. In the season opener, they managed to defeat Joventut Badalona, last season’s semifinalists, on the road. They did this while missing Matt Mitchell and Egehan Arna due to injuries, and even starting point guard Derek Needham got injured during the match, forcing Besiktas to compete with a very limited rotation. The visitors nonetheless emerged victorious, and after that defeated strong teams like Prometey Slobozhanske and Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana.
One of the key factors in Besiktas’s victories has been impressive defense, and in particular the team’s constant pressure on opposing ball-handlers and perimeter shooters. Besiktas players demonstrate great effort on defense, fighting hard for every possession, making it a chore for opponents to score. They also rebound well, ranking third in defensive boards with 27.3 per game and fourth in total rebounds with 40.0.
Dusan Alimpjevic’s pre-season statement is reflected on the court: “I wanted to build a team that never gives up. We will fight until the last second, dive for every loose ball, and not give up even if things go wrong. That’s why we chose these 14 warriors.”
Besiktas is also dangerous in the open court. Point guard Matthews likes to play up-tempo, while Mitchell and Berkan are forwards whose efficiency increases with a faster pace. For a big man, Delgado covers the entire court quite swiftly, too. The combination of this enjoyable open-court play with their intense defense is not only an advantage for the team, but a style that Besiktas fans have traditionally embraced. Considering the passionate atmosphere they create, playing against such a wholeheartedly competitive team at home will be very challenging for opponents.
A balanced offense despite modest long-range shooting
Another noteworthy aspect for Besiktas over the past three weeks is their ability to get scoring contributions from a variety of players.
While Matthews (16.3 points) and Arslan (13.7 points) have been the scoring leaders, five players total are averaging 8 or more points per game. This makes defending Besiktas difficult; it’s uncertain where the blow will come from. Moreover, their 11 turnovers per game are tied for second-best in the EuroCup.
Despite all these positives, Besiktas has room for improvement, especially in three-point shooting. Their 7.0 three-pointers per game are tied for second-lowest and the team’s 34.4% rate from the arc is middle-of-the-pack. In an era when three-point shooting has become increasingly important in basketball, this percentage is concerning. If Besiktas can improve its accuracy from deep, its offense will be more fluid. This, in turn, will allow them to take greater advantage of Angel Delgado’s finishing skills around the rim.
Still, the big picture is already clear. In their return to the EuroCup after a long hiatus, the “Black Eagles” have started strong and show no signs of slowing down.