Efe Aydan

Efe Aydan (born May 4, 1955 in Ankara, Turkey) 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.^[1][2]

Pro career

The ambitious Aydan started playing basketball in the youth ranks of Galatasaray 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.

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 the son of Turkish opera singer Sevda Aydan and older brother of Turkish actor Ege Aydan.

Career and achievements

• 1971-73 Galatasaray
• 1973-75 Karşıyaka
• 1975-82 Eczacıbaşı Holding
• 1982-86 Fenerbahçe
• 1986-87 Beşiktaş
• 1987-88 Paşabahçe
• 1988-92 Tofaşspor

Honours

• TBL: (6)
• Balkan Championship: (1)
• Mediterranean Games: (1)
• Islamic Games: (1)

References