Mirsad Türkcan (born Mirsad Jahović, sr-cyr, Мирсад Јаховић; on June 7, 1976) is a Turkish former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player of

Bosniak The Bosniaks (, Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Бошњаци, ; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Southeast European historical region of Bosnia (region), Bosnia, today part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and who sha ...

origin. Standing at a height of , he played at the

power forward The power forward (PF), also known as the four, is one of the five traditional Basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game. Traditionally, power forwards have played a role similar to center (basketball), centers and are typi ...

position. A three-time

All-EuroLeague Team The All-EuroLeague Team is an EuroLeague awards, award for European professional club basketball system, Europe's premier level league, the EuroLeague, that is given to the league's top ten basketball players for each season, since the 2000–01 s ...

member, he is also the fifth best rebounder in the EuroLeague, since the year 2000, with 1,287 total rebounds. Born in

Novi Pazar Novi Pazar ( sr-cyr, Нови Пазар) is a List of cities in Serbia, city located in the Raška District of southwestern Serbia. As of the 2022 census, the urban area has 71,462 inhabitants, while the city administrative area has 106,720 inha ...

SR Serbia The Socialist Republic of Serbia ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, separator=" / ", Социјалистичка Република Србија, Socijalistička Republika Srbija), previously known as the People's Republic of Serbia ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, separator=" / " ...

, he moved to play basketball in Turkey. At the same time, he also obtained Turkish citizenship, and started playing international basketball with the senior Turkey national team. In 1999, he became the first Turkish basketball player to play in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

(NBA). In the

EuroLeague The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. The league is widely recognised as the top-tier and the most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. The league consists of 20 teams, of which 16 are given lon ...

, Türkcan amassed total of 50 double doubles, and is one of only three players since the year 2000, to record a 20- point, 20- rebound game (27 points and 23 rebounds). He led the EuroLeague in rebounding five times. He was nominated for the EuroLeague 2001–10 All-Decade Team, but he did not make the final list. He became a EuroLeague Legend in 2017.

Professional career

Early years

Türkcan grew up with Efes Pilsen's junior teams, and he made his professional debut with the

Efes Pilsen Anadolu Efes Biracılık ve Malt Sanayii A.Ş.'' (lit. Anadolu Efes Brewery and Malt Industries)'' produces and markets beer and malt and non-alcoholic beverages in Turkey, the United States, Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), E ...

senior men's team, during the 1994–95 season. He won two

Turkish Super League Turkish may refer to: * Something related to Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities in the former Ottoman Empire * The ...

championships, in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons with Efes.

NBA

Türkcan was selected by the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

in the

1998 NBA draft The 1998 NBA draft took place on June 24, 1998, at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around four struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, the Boston Celtics, and the Tor ...

. A few days after the draft night, he said in an interview: "This is a big step for me, but I played in Turkey, and I am the first Turkish player to come into the

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

. This is very important for me, for my family, and for my country." Because of the 1998–99 NBA lockout, he returned to Istanbul, continuing to play for Efes Pilsen. Later, his rights were traded to the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...

, in January 1999, and then to the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...

, in March. He eventually signed with the Knicks, and debuted in the 1999–00 season, in which he played in only 7 games. After being waived in February 2000, he finished his NBA adventure by playing 10 games for the

Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

Return to Europe

In January 2001, Türkcan moved to France, signing for the remainder of the season with

Paris Basket Racing Paris Basket Racing, or PBR, was a French professional basketball club from Paris. It was founded in 1922, as the basketball section of the sports club, multi-sports club Racing Club de Paris. The team took the name "Paris Basket Racing" in 2000. ...

. He then signed a contract with the Russian club

CSKA Moscow CSKA Moscow () is a Russian sports club based in Moscow. It was created in 1911 in the Russian Empire on base of OLLS (Skiing Society, founded 1901). Later, during the Soviet Union, Soviet era, it was the central part of the Armed Forces (sports ...

, for the 2001–02 season. He signed a contract with the Italian club

Montepaschi Siena Mens Sana Basketball Siena, also known as simply Mens Sana, is an Italian professional basketball club based in Siena. It is a section of the sports club Polisportiva Mens Sana, founded in 1871. Under the name Montepaschi Siena, derived from spon ...

, for the 2002–03 season. He moved back to Russia for the 2003–04 season, being again signed by

. Türkcan then played with

Dynamo Moscow MGO VFSO "Dynamo" (), commonly known as Dynamo Moscow (), is a Russian sports club based in Moscow. Founded by Felix Dzerzhinsky on 18 April 1923, Dynamo Moscow was the first institution created from the All-Union Dynamo Sports Club. Dynamo Mosco ...

of the Russian Championship, in the 2004–05 season. In the summer of 2006, he signed a contract with the Turkish team Fenerbahçe. During the EuroLeague 2008–09 season, he became the first basketball player to amass at least 1,000 total rebounds in the EuroLeague, since the start of the 2000–01 season. In the summer of 2009, he extended his contract with the Turkish club for the next two seasons. In February 2011, Türkcan ruptured the anterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee, during the

Turkish Cup The Turkish Cup () is a football cup competition in Turkish football, run by the Turkish Football Federation since 1962. During a brief sponsorship period with Fortis, its sponsored name was ''Fortis Türkiye Kupası''. Now Ziraat Bankası is ...

final, and because of that, he missed the rest of the season. In July 2012, it was reported that Türkcan would announce his retirement, after 19 years of playing professional basketball. Türkcan ended his playing career with a farewell

exhibition game An exhibition game (also known as a friendly, scrimmage, demonstration, training match, pre-season game, warmup match, or preparation match, depending at least in part on the sport) is a sporting event whose prize money and impact on the playe ...

, in September 2012.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2", , style="text-align:left;",

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, 7 , , 0 , , 3.6 , , .200 , , .000 , , .000 , , 1.4 , , .1 , , .3 , , .0 , , .6 , - , style="text-align:left;",

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

, 10 , , 0 , , 6.5 , , .429 , , .000 , , .625 , , 2.3 , , .4 , , .1 , , .1 , , 2.9 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan=2, Career , 17 , , 0 , , 5.3 , , .368 , , .000 , , .625 , , 1.9 , , .3 , , .2 , , .1 , , 1.9

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 2 , , 0 , , 5.0 , , .200 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 2.0 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan=2, Career , 2 , , 0 , , 5.0 , , .200 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 2.0

EuroLeague

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2001–02 , style="text-align:left;",

, 17 , , 15 , , 33.6 , , .517 , , .333 , , .709 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", 12.8* , , 2.1 , , 1.2 , , 1.2 , , 17.6 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", 25.8* , - , style="text-align:left;", 2002–03 , style="text-align:left;", Mens Sana , 21 , , 21 , , 35.6 , , .520 , , .473 , , .707 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", 11.8* , , 2.1 , , 2.1 , , .8 , , 14.6 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", 24.0* , - , style="text-align:left;", 2003–04 , style="text-align:left;",

, 20 , , 18 , , 25.6 , , .443 , , .245 , , .681 , , 10.4 , , 1.1 , , .8 , , .3 , , 9.9 , , 17.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2005–06 , style="text-align:left;", Ülkerspor , 16 , , 11 , , 29.7 , , .451 , , .320 , , .768 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", 8.9* , , 1.5 , , 1.4 , , .5 , , 11.7 , , 17.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2006–07 , style="text-align:left;" rowspan="6", Fenerbahçe , 11 , , 10 , , 25.9 , , .419 , , .231 , , .750 , , 9.2 , , 1.1 , , 1.2 , , .6 , , 8.1 , , 14.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2007–08 , 12 , , 7 , , 27.2 , , .436 , , .241 , , .793 , , 9.2 , , 1.3 , , .6 , , .8 , , 9.8 , , 14.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2008–09 , 14 , , 11 , , 27.4 , , .489 , , .513 , , .833 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", 8.6* , , 1.1 , , .6 , , .4 , , 15.4 , , 19.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2009–10 , 1 , , 0 , , 10.3 , , .250 , , .000 , , , , 2.0 , , , , , , , , 2.0 , , 0.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2010–11 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

, 12 , , 0 , , 21.0 , , .474 , , .361 , , .400 , , style="background:#CFECEC;", 7.3* , , .8 , , .8 , , .2 , , 7.9 , , 11.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2011–12 , 5 , , 0 , , 16.8 , , .316 , , .200 , , 1.000 , , 9.6 , , 1.0 , , .4 , , , , 3.4 , , 9.6 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan=2, Career , 129 , , 94 , , 28.5 , , .474 , , .345 , , .726 , , 10.0 , , 1.4 , , 1.1 , , .6 , , 11.8 , , 18.3

National team career

Türkcan was a member of the senior Turkey national team that won the silver medal at the

EuroBasket 2001 The 2001 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 2001, was the 32nd FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe, which also served as Europe qualifier for the 2002 FIBA World Championship, giving a ...

. He also played with Turkey's senior national team at the following major international tournaments: the

EuroBasket 1995 The 1995 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1995, was the 29th FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe, which also served as Europe qualifier for the 1996 Summer Olympics, giving a berth to e ...

, the

EuroBasket 1997 The 1997 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1997, was the 30th FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe, which also served as Europe qualifier for the 1998 FIBA World Championship, giving a b ...

, the

EuroBasket 1999 The 1999 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 1999, was the 31st FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe, which also served as Europe qualifier for the 2000 Olympic Tournament, giving a berth ...

, the

2002 FIBA World Championship The 2002 FIBA World Championship was the 14th edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, FIBA World Championship, the international basketball world championship for men's national teams. The tournament was held by the FIBA, International Basketb ...

, the

EuroBasket 2003 The 2003 FIBA European Championship, commonly called FIBA EuroBasket 2003, was the 33rd FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe, which also served as the Europe qualifier for the 2004 Summer Olympics, giving a berth ...

, and the

EuroBasket 2005 The 2005 FIBA European Championship, commonly known as FIBA EuroBasket 2005, was the 34th FIBA EuroBasket regional basketball championship held by FIBA Europe. It also served as the European qualifier for the 2006 FIBA World Championship, awardin ...

Personal life

Mirsad Jahović was born in

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

parents. He is known for various philanthropic and humanitarian activities in his hometown. His sister,

Emina Jahović Emina Jahović (, ; born 15 January 1982) is a Serbian-Turkish singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman of Bosniak origin. Born and raised in Novi Pazar, she made her recording debut in 2002 and has released six studio albums: ''Tačka'' (20 ...

, is a pop singer, and the former wife of singer

Mustafa Sandal Mustafa Sandal (born 11 January 1970) is a Turkish singer-songwriter and actor. At the beginning of the 1990s, he wrote and composed a number of songs for other singers and made a reputation for himself in the music industry. He had leading role ...

. Türkcan is known to have financially helped jump start her recording career. On December 18, 2005, Mirsad married then 19-year-old Dina Džanković, his then-girlfriend of five months, and the 2005 Miss

Serbia and Montenegro The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro or simply Serbia and Montenegro, known until 2003 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and commonly referred to as FR Yugoslavia (FRY) or simply Yugoslavia, was a country in Southeast Europe locate ...

. They have three children together; two girls, Naba and Karia, and a boy, Nusret. The couple divorced in 2012.Razveli se Mirsad Turkdžan i Dina Džanković!
January 2012 In 2015, Mirsad married Dušica Drljević, who gave birth to their son, Rejjan Mete, the same year.

Awards and accomplishments

Professional career

* 5×

Turkish Super Cup The Turkish Super Cup, known as Turkcell Super Cup () for sponsorship reasons, is a super cup tournament in Turkish football. Founded in 1966 as a two-team competition, the current version has been contested since 2025 by four teams: the winners ...

Winner: (1993, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2007) * 6×

Winner: (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2010,

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

) * 8×

Champion: (1994, 1996, 1997,

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

) *

FIBA Korać Cup The FIBA Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA Europe between the 1971–72 and 2001–02 seasons. It was the European professional club basketball system, third-tier level club competition in European basketball, a ...

Champion: (1996) * 2×

EuroLeague Final Four The EuroLeague Final Four is the final four format championship of the European-wide top-tier level EuroLeague professional club basketball competition. The Euroleague Basketball Company used the final four format for the first time in 2002, fo ...

Participant: (

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

) * Russian League Champion: (2004)

Individual

* EuroLeague Regular Season MVP: (

2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...

) * EuroLeague Top 16 MVP: (

) * 3×

: **

All-EuroLeague First Team The All-EuroLeague Team is an award for Europe's premier level league, the EuroLeague, that is given to the league's top ten basketball players for each season, since the 2000–01 season. During the FIBA era of the EuroLeague, players were honor ...

: (

) ** 2× All-EuroLeague Second Team: (

–

) * 5× Rebound leader of the EuroLeague: (

2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

) * Rebound leader of the Italian League: (2003) * Rebound leader of the

Russian Super League The Russian Superleague (, ''Russian Championship Superleague''), commonly abbreviated as RSL, was the highest division of the main professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was considered the second-best league in the world, after the Nation ...

: (2005) * Number 6 jersey retired by Fenerbahçe: (2012) * EuroLeague Legend: (2017)

Professional career

Early years

NBA

Return to Europe

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

EuroLeague

National team career

Personal life

Awards and accomplishments

Professional career

Individual

Notes

References

External links