By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko has signed Scottie Wilbekin, the team announced Sunday. The newcomer penned a three-year contract.
The Florida product was already linked to a move to the reigning champions of Turkey’s BSL. He was officially released by Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv Saturday evening and became a free agent for a few hours.
Wilbekin, 29, besides heading to his seventh campaign in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, will return to Turkey. He played for fellow Istanbul outfit Darussafaka from 2015 to 2018 and as the season and Finals MVP was the driving force in capturing the 7DAYS EuroCup title, before opting to join Maccabi and spending the last four years at the team based in Tel Aviv. At the Yellows, he celebrated three domestic titles in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
In 2021-22, he produced 15.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game in the EuroLeague, plus 13.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game in Israel’s Winner League. His side, going through a midseason head coaching change, managed to qualify for the Playoffs as the fifth seed but was swept by Real Madrid and domestically was eliminated by Bnei Ofek Dist Herzeliya in the Semifinals of the Winner League Playoffs.
Previous offseason additions for the team headed by Greek tactician Dimitris Itoudis are Johnathan Motley and Samet Geyik, while Melih Mahmutoglu and Ismet Akpinar signed contract extensions. In the opposite direction, Jan Vesely, Pierria Henry, Danilo Barthel, Jehyve Floyd, Markel Starks and Ahmet Duverioglu all parted ways with Fenerbahce.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net