The International Association of Basketball Federations (FIBA) elected Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) President Hidayet Türkoğlu, who became one of the legends of Turkish basketball with his achievements in his active sports and management career, to the 2026 “Hall of Fame”.
46-year-old Türkoğlu, who has achieved countless successes in his 20-year career in the National Basketball Team, Anadolu Efes and the American Basketball League (NBA), and has served Turkish basketball as the president of the federation since 2016 after ending his active career, became the first Turkish athlete to be elected to the “FIBA Hall of Fame”.
Türkoğlu, who attracted attention by winning 5 cups in 4 years with Anadolu Efes in his professional career that started 30 years ago, started his historical journey of 997 games by being selected 16th by the Sacramento Kings in the 2000 NBA draft.
Türkoğlu, who was the first Turkish player to start a game in the NBA and earned the nickname “Mr. Fourth Quarter” with his contribution to the team in the last quarter of his second season with Magic, came very close to the championship in the 2009 NBA finals, but could not overcome the Los Angeles Lakers obstacle.
Türkoğlu, who enjoyed silver medals with the Turkish National Team in the 2001 European Championship and 2010 World Championship hosted by Istanbul, was selected for the top 5 of the World Championship, where he competed with an average of 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
Türkoğlu, who built one of the world’s leading facilities for Turkish basketball during his term as president of the federation, made history by taking his podium success as an athlete at the European Championship outside Türkiye’s borders for the first time last summer.
“INDESCRIBABLE PRIDE”
Türkoğlu used the following statements in the message he published on his NSosyal account:
“It is a great pride and honor for me to be included in the FIBA Hall of Fame list, along with valuable names from different countries and generations who have left their mark on world basketball. In every match I played in the crescent-star jersey, I was on the field with the responsibility of representing this country in the best possible way. This journey is the result of the joint effort of my teammates with whom I worked hard on the field, my family who always kept me alive, and the Turkish nation who never wavered in their support. Growing basketball as a universal value and carrying this legacy to future generations “I would like to thank FIBA for their contributions to world basketball. It is an indescribable pride to represent our star and crescent flag on such a distinguished platform.”
MINISTER BAK CONGRATULATED
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak congratulated Türkoğlu. He included the following statements in his message:
“I congratulate our President of the Turkish Basketball Federation, Hidayet Türkoğlu, who has become one of the legends of Turkish basketball with his achievements in his active sports and management career, for being deemed worthy of the 2026 “Hall of Fame” by the International Association of Basketball Federations (FIBA). The success of Hidayet Türkoğlu, who has fit countless successes into his 20-year sports career and has served Turkish basketball as the president of the federation since 2016 after ending his basketball career. “It is a source of pride. I would like to thank Hidayet Türkoğlu for his services to the development of Turkish basketball and wish the continued success of Hidayet Türkoğlu, who was deemed worthy of the FIBA Hall of Fame.”
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