By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko used the team option on Ismet Akpinar’s contract to retain the Turkish-German guard through the 2022-23 season, the team announced Thursday.
Akpinar, 27, penned the 1+1 contract to join the team based in Istanbul last June. Playing in 14 games of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, including three starts, he produced 4.8 points, 0.9 assists, 0.7 rebounds, 0.1 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game. Counting his five appearances as a member of Alba Berlin in 2014-15, he managed to up his total of games played in Europe’s premier club continental competition to 19.
After missing the Playoffs in the EuroLeague and previously losing to Anadolu Efes in the final of the Bitci Erkekler Turkiye Kupasi, Fener bounced back and captured the league championship at the domestic level for the first time since 2018. Akpinar’s contribution amounted to 6.0 points, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 rebounds per game.
Prior to landing at Fenerbahce, the German international moved from Germany’s easyCredit BBL to Turkey’s BSL playing for Besiktas and Bahcesehir Koleji in 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. Besides four years with Alba, his previous experience in Germany included two seasons at ratiopharm Ulm.
Plenty of moves early in the offseason, including hiring Dimitris Itoudis as the new head coach. Johnathan Motley and Samet Geyik have been officially added to the squad with explosive guard Scottie Wilbekin emerging as another potential addition, and Melih Mahmutoglu penned a two-year contract extension. Departures so far have been highlighted by Czech star Jan Vesely.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net