By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Retooling the squad for the 2026–27 edition of the EuroLeague, Besiktas Gain secured the services of 33-year-old Scottie Wilbekin. The one-year deal was announced on Friday.
The 1.88-meter-tall playmaker, who holds a Turkish passport, arrives after completing his four-year tenure with local rivals Fenerbahce Beko, where he recently won the EuroLeague crown in 2025.
The Florida native launched his professional career in 2014 following an impressive collegiate run with the Florida Gators, where he spearheaded his team to the NCAA Final Four and earned third-team All-American recognition. Since then, he went undrafted in the NBA but crafted a stellar reputation across international leagues.
Resmi Açıklama I Scottie Wilbekin
Takımımız, yeni sezon transfer çalışmaları kapsamında Türk pasaportu da taşıyan ABD’li oyun kurucu Scottie Wilbekin ile sözleşme imzaladı.
Kolej kariyerini NCAA’de Florida Gators formasıyla tamamlamasının ardından profesyonel kariyerine 2014… pic.twitter.com/EU4siz7n9u
— Beşiktaş Basketbol (@BJK_Basketbol) July 3, 2026
His journey features a stint with AEK in Greece and massive acclaim during his time with Darussafaka, where he swept both the Regular Season and Finals Most Valuable Player accolades during their triumphant 7DAYS EuroCup championship 2017–18 run.
Beyond his club success, which also includes three consecutive Winner League trophies in Israel with Maccabi FOX / Playtika Tel Aviv, the veteran achieved citizenship in 2018. This legal status allowed him to represent the Turkish national team at the FIBA World Cup 2019.
This acquisition boosts the backcourt for head coach Dusan Alimpijevic, who is currently overseeing a major roster overhaul for the upcoming campaign. Earlier Friday, the Istanbul outfit finalized a move for Metecan Birsen, following up on the arrival of Furkan Korkmaz. These marquee signings complement a series of critical contract extensions for core roster members Anthony Brown, Devon Dotson, Berk Ugurlu, and Ante Zizic.
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