By Melikşah Bayrav/ info@eurohoops.net
In recent years, Bursaspor has developed a remarkable tradition of showcasing young Turkish scorers. A few years ago, Onuralp Bitim made a spectacular breakthrough wearing the Bursaspor jersey and eventually made his way to the NBA. A similar story recently unfolded with David Mutaf.
Just like Onuralp, David seized his opportunities with Bursaspor, made the most of his minutes and role, and joined Anadolu Efes this summer. Now, after Onuralp Bitim and David Mutaf, it seems that another young scorer is stepping into the spotlight.
Berk Can Akın, a 20-year-old shooting guard developed in the Bursaspor Yörsan youth system, left the team a year ago to join the NCAA side UC Irvine. However, after a year in the NCAA that didn’t go as planned, he returned to Bursaspor this summer.
Frankly, this return appears to have been the best possible decision for the young guard so far. Starting from the preseason games, Berk Can began making a name for himself, but his real breakthrough came during the Basketball Champions League qualifying rounds. The semifinal matchup against PAOK was undoubtedly the most memorable game of Berk Can Akın’s professional career to date.
In today’s series, Eurohoops takes a closer look at what Bursaspor Yörsan’s young scorer Berk Can Akın has achieved — and what he might be capable of in the future.
Adaptation to the Roster and the Right Role
To fully understand Berk Can Akın’s rise, it’s necessary to look at it in the context of Bursaspor Yörsan’s summer roster construction. After parting ways with head coach Serhan Kavut, who had led the team for the previous two seasons, Bursaspor brought in experienced coach Nenad Markovic, well-known in Turkey for his ability to develop players.
This summer’s roster mainly consists of athletic players suited for a high-tempo, fast-paced offense. Names such as Landry Nnoko, Brandon Childress, Bryant Crawford, Malik Parsons, VJ King, and Javin DeLaurier all stand out for their athleticism. Naturally, this means Bursaspor aims to play an energetic and athletic brand of basketball — making floor spacing a critical component.
In that sense, Berk Can Akın, together with Artur Konontsuk, plays a crucial role for Bursaspor. Despite being only 20, Berk Can is a highly confident shooter for his age. His sharp and consistent shooting threat from beyond the arc is of immense value to Bursaspor’s offensive system.
When we analyze his game, the first thing that stands out is his shooting ability. The young guard already possesses a well-developed shooting form. With a quick release reminiscent of elite shooters, Berk Can plays a pivotal role in creating space within Bursaspor’s offense.
The clearest example of how important a shooter he is came in the Champions League qualifying semifinal against PAOK. Scoring 22 points with four three-pointers, Berk Can’s corner shots were instrumental in stretching the defense and giving Bursaspor easy spacing in half-court situations — leading to a surprisingly comfortable win in a game expected to be close.
Looking at his on-ball game, Berk Can also demonstrates remarkable confidence for his age. He occasionally takes contested three-pointers or mid-range shots that are not usually expected from a player this young, and his success rate on those attempts is quite promising.
The Road Ahead
Although it’s still early in the season, Berk Can Akın has already shown that he possesses significant potential. That said, he’s not yet a consistent player — which is completely natural for a 20-year-old getting his first real taste of major minutes.
The key question for his career will be whether he can develop into a consistent performer. He clearly has the mechanics and potential to become an elite shooter, but he still needs to add certain elements to his game to become more complete.
So far, his biggest strength has been catch-and-shoot threes from the corners and wings. However, he hasn’t been equally effective in movement shooting — coming off screens or curls — though his quick release suggests that he definitely has the potential to improve there.
If he can enhance his ability to shoot off screens, it could elevate him into a truly elite-level scorer.
Moreover, diversifying his offensive skill set will be crucial for his long-term growth. While he’s not an explosive or highly athletic player, Berk Can can handle the ball effectively. This can be particularly useful when attacking closeouts or driving to the rim after receiving the ball off screens.
If he manages to combine this with improved passing, mid-range shooting, and rim attacks, he could become a far more versatile and efficient guard than he is today.
Ultimately, despite everything he’s already shown, Berk Can Akın remains a player with plenty of room to grow. Given Bursaspor Yörsan’s roster structure and playing philosophy, he’s in one of the best environments to continue developing. As long as he keeps earning regular minutes and plays with confidence, there’s no reason to believe his growth will slow down — just like Onuralp Bitim and David Mutaf before him.