Besiktas Istanbul

Player to watch : Devon Dotson

During that season, which saw the team reach three finals, Besiktas relied on a trio: Anthony Brown for scoring, Ante Zizic for rebounding and… Devon Dotson for playmaking! A high school superstar, this young point guard quickly established himself as one of the greatest prospects of his generation in the US. He continued his upward trajectory in the NCAA with the Kansas Jayhawks before it came to an abrupt halt upon his move to the NBA. Despite averaging over 20 points per game in the G-League, neither the Bulls nor the Wizards gave him a chance, unlike the Istanbul-based club.

Since his arrival in the summer of 2025, Devon Dotson has more than risen to the challenges of European basketball. His natural speed with the ball at his feet, reminiscent of Derrick Rose, fits the profile of the modern, scoring-oriented point guard. And he does so without neglecting his passing game, which he also excels at within his team. It is also worth noting that he excels in the art of the steal. The EuroLeague will reveal whether or not the Chicago native has the ability to take his game to the next level.

Playing style

Beşiktaş is banking on continuity! The result of three seasons’ hard work, Dušan Alimpijević’s side is strengthening its distinct yet flexible identity day by day. After quickly moving the ball up the court, the Kara Kartallar’s backcourt players use their freedom to manoeuvre around the perimeter before driving to the basket. Aided by screens and even pick-and-rolls, players such as Devon Dotson and Berk Ugurlu shoot, drive or deliver a perfect pass to their big men. 

Lightning-fast transitions are another weapon that Beşiktaş uses to the full. This intensity is equally evident in defence, as demonstrated by their ultra-aggressive press on the opposition’s ball-carrier.

Club history

Whilst the Ottoman Empire refused to allow any form of Anglo-Saxon sport on its territory, the Bereket Gymnastics Club was granted special permission by the authorities to be established in 1903. As for basketball, it was not until 1933 that the sport began to appear unofficially within the club. This was particularly true as, immediately after the 1936 Munich Olympics, the orange ball left the Turkish capital, only to return in the 1940s. This was followed by a series of seasons in the shadows, marked by ups and downs, until the summer of 1966, when the national league was established. To join the top flight, the Kara Kartallar first had to win the Istanbul League. The club took part, won the title, and joined the Süper Lig the very next season.

The year 1967 marked the official debut of Beşiktaş Basketball! During its early seasons, the capital city club established itself as a powerhouse in Turkey. The 1970s began with several runners-up finishes, alongside appearances in European cup competitions. The highlight of their 20th century came in 1975 when the Kara Kartallar lifted the trophy following a commanding victory over Galatasaray (87–74). It was to be their only trophy before a long period of drought. In the meantime, the Istanbul side racked up numerous second-place finishes in the league and the Cup, as well as lacklustre performances in Europe. Hopes of reclaiming the title returned in 1987 with a first-place finish in the regular season. However, these hopes were quickly dashed by a devastating elimination at the quarter-final stage of the play-offs. This setback was compounded by a devastating relegation after 20 years at the top flight.

One season! One season was all it took for Besiktas to bounce back. However, this return to the top flight went largely unnoticed. For just under a decade, the club languished in the lower half of the table. The turning point came at the end of the 1998 season, which saw them reach the play-offs. From that moment on, the play-offs became a regular feature for the Kara Kartallar, particularly when Burak Bıyıktay took charge of the team in 2002. This was followed by an unfortunate 2005 Süper Lig final against Anadolu (1–4), a fruitful sponsorship deal with Cola Turka, consistent top-five finishes in the league, and the signing of Allen Iverson. But still no new title in sight! In a bid to revive the black-and-white machine, Ergin Ataman took charge in January 2011. And whilst that inaugural campaign ended in defeat in the National Cup final against Fenerbahçe (72–81), the following year promised to be LEGENDARY.

First, Beşiktaş took advantage of the NBA lockout to get their season off to a flying start. Then everything just fell into place! After a gruelling campaign, the Istanbul side lifted their second league title, beating Anadolu Efes 4–2. No sooner had they clinched these titles than they added a National Cup, a EuroChallenge (C3) and a President’s Cup to their haul. Four of the five trophies in the Turkish club’s honours list were won in 2012. Despite making their EuroLeague debut a few months later, Ergin Ataman’s departure prevented any sense of continuity. Worse still, a constant turnover of coaches characterised their daily life until 2016.

The arrival of coach Ufuk Sarıca enabled Beşiktaş to keep their heads above water despite a heavy defeat in the 2017 league final. Reaching the semi-finals was back in fashion! Except that, in the meantime, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and dealt a severe blow to the club. When Nedim Yücel took over as general manager of Beşiktaş in 2024, he decided to replace the entire squad and start from scratch. Buoyed by this new momentum, Dušan Alimpijević put the Istanbul-based club back on the map in Turkey by 2025, thanks in particular to a historic run of 13 consecutive league wins – something not seen in 45 years! Although the manager has lost five finals in a row, the Kara Kartallar are now back in the EuroLeague, ready to establish themselves permanently amongst the continent’s elite.

Zoom : Hüdai Budanır

That name may not mean much to you, yet this former Besiktas player put in one of the most incredible performances in the history of our sport.

 

In 1957, Besiktas took on Karagücü. Far superior to their opponents, the Istanbul club dominated proceedings and eventually ran out winners by a landslide score of 110–46. A score that might seem unremarkable on paper, yet the fixture made the headlines in the local press. The reason? Hüdai Budanır scored 110 points – 100 per cent of his team’s total!

Although this record for points scored in a Turkish league match was eventually broken 30 years later, the fact that a single player accounted for all of his team’s points in a single match remains an extremely rare, almost extraordinary occurrence.

the number : 3

Alongside Fenerbahçe and Anadolu Efes, Beşiktaş is the third Istanbul club in the EuroLeague – something almost unheard of in the history of the competition.