by Semih Tuna / stuna@eurohoops.net
Bahçeşehir Koleji is competing in the BKT EuroCup, and they have already made this season unforgettable. With Nemanja Bjelica taking on the role of Sports Director in the summer, Bahçeşehir underwent a complete restructuring and made significant additions to its squad.
Despite this being their first full season in the tournament (Editor’s note: Bahçeşehir had previously participated in the EuroCup, but the season was canceled due to COVID-19), they had an incredible regular season.
Bahçeşehir Koleji won nine of their first ten group stage games, quickly securing the top spot in their group. Despite suffering three losses in the remaining matches, their fantastic start ensured that they finished first in their group and advanced directly to the quarterfinals.
Having achieved the impressive feat of finishing the regular season as group leaders, Dejan Radonjic’s team is now waiting for their quarterfinal opponent. Bahçeşehir Koleji will face the winner of the Playoff matchup between Cedevita Olimpija and Beşiktaş Fibabanka in the next round.
One of the most notable aspects of Bahçeşehir Koleji since the summer has been its emphasis on strengthening its domestic player rotation. Adding notable Turkish players such as Şehmus Hazer, Furkan Haltalı, Ömercan İlyasoğlu, and Göktuğ Baş during the summer, the club continued this approach throughout the season.
Furkan Korkmaz and Kenan Sipahi emerged as two of the most significant mid-season additions. After returning to Europe with AS Monaco following a long NBA stint, Furkan struggled with injuries and was unable to find the opportunities he desired. As a result, the 27-year-old scorer decided to return to Turkey and signed with Bahçeşehir Koleji.
The other key Turkish signing, an experienced point guard in Sipahi, was enjoying one of the best seasons of his career with Karşıyaka but had to leave due to financial issues within the club.
Upon joining Bahçeşehir Koleji, Kenan quickly became a crucial part of their domestic rotation.
Competing in both the Basketball Super League and EuroCup, the Turkish international point guard spoke exclusively to Eurohoops about his transition from Karşıyaka to Bahçeşehir Koleji.
Kenan Sipahi shared his thoughts on leaving Karşıyaka and joining Bahçeşehir Koleji:
“I had a conversation with Nemanja Bjelica during the summer. He knew I was under contract, and he was also aware that I wanted to stay at Karşıyaka. He wanted to express his interest and appreciation. We were teammates at Fenerbahçe, and our way of thinking aligned.
When we spoke on the phone, he told me, ‘Turkish players are very important to us.’ You saw the players he signed in the summer. It’s important that he followed through on what he said. Saying something and actually doing it are two different things. Yes, there were other teams that wanted me, but the most important thing in a mid-season move was to play in a similar role to what I had in my previous team.”
Of course, switching teams mid-season is never easy for a player. Given Kenan Sipahi’s role and importance at Karşıyaka, it was evident that this transition would not be simple.
Currently, Bahçeşehir Koleji is one of the fastest-rising clubs in European basketball. This season, they began playing their home games at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall and have significantly expanded their ambitions. As club president Begüm Yücel recently stated, Bahçeşehir Koleji aims to compete in the EuroLeague in the future.
Kenan Sipahi had this to say about the Bahçeşehir Koleji organization:
“In my opinion, Bahçeşehir Koleji is the best organization in Turkey. Beyond success, the facilities and the comfort provided to players… In this regard, I believe Bahçeşehir is the best organization in Turkey and among the top in Europe.”
Furthermore, Bahçeşehir Koleji is one of the Turkish teams that provides the most playing time to domestic players in European competitions. The presence of Turkish players like Kenan Sipahi, Furkan Korkmaz, Şehmus Hazer, and Furkan Haltalı plays a significant role in this.
Kenan Sipahi emphasized the importance of this:
“I mention this when I talk to my teammates. Bahçeşehir Koleji needs to be successful. Not just this year, but in previous years as well, they have given opportunities to Turkish players. We need to ensure that this organization succeeds both in Europe and in Turkey so that we can repay the trust and chances they have given us.”
Additionally, for the past two seasons, Bahçeşehir has been coached by one of the most experienced figures in European basketball, Dejan Radonjic. The Montenegrin coach, who achieved significant success with Crvena Zvezda in the past, is working hard to establish Bahçeşehir Koleji as one of Europe’s top clubs.
Kenan Sipahi highlighted his coach’s emphasis on defense:
“He values every possession greatly—both offensively and defensively. He makes sure his players understand the value of each possession. His defensive principles are very clear. That’s why I adapted very quickly when I arrived. Everything has a structure, which makes things easier. Offensively, he also gave me great freedom from the moment I arrived. He even designed a post-up play for me. His main principle is to take the best shot available. Whether you are a guard or a big man, if it’s an open and good shot, you should take it. He’s not a fan of contested shots (laughs).”
At Karşıyaka, Kenan Sipahi was one of the team’s two primary leaders, alongside Errick McCollum. Their ability to complement each other on both ends of the court played a significant role in Karşıyaka’s success.
Now, Errick McCollum is continuing his career at the highest level of European basketball with Fenerbahçe Beko, while Kenan Sipahi is striving to help Bahçeşehir Koleji reach greater heights in the EuroCup.
Kenan Sipahi spoke about his strong relationship with Errick McCollum:
“Even after joining different teams, we still talk every week. He texts me, I text him. We even faced each other. (At Karşıyaka) We tried to manage everything carefully. Before talking to the foreign players about how to motivate the team, Errick and I would have our own meetings.
Errick is such a great leader that my job as team captain was incredibly easy. I joined the senior team when I was 15 years old. Among all the players I have played with, I would rank him at the very top in terms of leadership—both on and off the court. I tried to make his job easier, and he did the same for me. By constantly supporting each other, we got through difficult times in the best way possible.”
Kenan Sipahi was one of Karşıyaka’s most consistent players, and he has carried that consistency to Bahçeşehir Koleji. Averaging 23 minutes per game in the EuroCup, he and Şehmus Hazer are the team’s two most prominent domestic players.
Additionally, with an average of 6.0 assists per game, the veteran point guard leads the team in assists.
Kenan Sipahi described his role at Bahçeşehir Koleji with these words:
“The biggest reason I signed with Bahçeşehir was the role I would have. Because I have never been able to perform well in a smaller role. Some players can do that, but I couldn’t.
I couldn’t deliver strong performances in limited minutes. That’s why being on the court is so important for me. Coming here, I realized I made the right decision. Of course, I want to stay here. The club has big goals—aiming to rise continuously, compete in the EuroLeague, and win the EuroCup. These ambitions keep players motivated and push them to keep improving.
It was the same way at Karşıyaka. That’s why one of my main goals is to succeed with this club and continue here next season. If a team is successful, why would the club break it up? They would want to continue. It’s really that simple.”