İsmet Akpınar
İsmet Akpınar (Turkish: İsmet Akpınar, born May 22, 1995) is a Turkish-German professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL) and the EuroLeague.
![]() Akpınar with Fenerbahçe in 2021 | |
No. 5 – Fenerbahçe Beko | |
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Position | Point guard / Shooting guard |
League | BSL EuroLeague |
Personal information | |
Born | Hamburg, Germany | May 22, 1995
Nationality | Turkish / German |
Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Listed weight | 169 lb (77 kg) |
Career information | |
Playing career | 2011–present |
Career history | |
2011–2013 | Rist Wedel |
2013–2017 | Alba Berlin |
2017–2019 | Ulm |
2019–2020 | Beşiktaş |
2020 | Bayern Munich |
2020–2021 | Bahçeşehir Koleji |
2021–present | Fenerbahçe |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early years
Akpınar started his career in the BC Hamburg youth ranks.[1] At the age of 16, he made his professional debut with SC Rist Wedel in the ProB, the third tier of German basketball, earning Eurobasket.com All-German ProB Rookie of the Year honors following the 2011–12 season.[2] At the same time, he excelled at the youth level playing for Piraten Hamburg and was named JBBL (under-16 Bundesliga) Player of the Year in 2011[3] as well as NBBL (under-19 Bundesliga) Rookie of the Year the following season.[4]
Professional career
In February 2013, Akpınar agreed on a four-year deal with Bundesliga side Alba Berlin.[5] In the 2016-17 season, he received the BBL Best German Young Player Award.[6]
On June 7, 2017, he signed with ratiopharm Ulm.[7] In the 2017–18 season, he was invited for the BBL All-Star Game for the first time in his career. In 2019, Akpinar played in his second All-Star Game and was MVP of the match.[8]
On July 30, 2019, he has signed contract with Beşiktaş Sompo Japan of the Basketbol Süper Ligi.[9]
On May 25, 2020, he has signed with Bayern Munich of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).[10]
On July 11, 2020, he has signed with Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL).[11]
On June 18, 2021, he signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahçe Beko of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL) and the EuroLeague.[12]
National team

Akpınar has represented the German Junior National Teams on many occasions. In August 2010, he played in the North Sea Development Basketball Cup, guiding the German under-15 squad to a second-place finish.[13]
He was part of the German U16 National Team, competing in the 2011 under-16 European Championships,[14] and was selected to play for Germany's U18 team at the 2012 Albert-Schweitzer-Tournament[15] as well as at the 2012[16] and 2013[17] under-18 European Championships. In 2014[18] and 2015,[19] he played for his country in the under-20 European Championships. In the summer of 2017, he was capped for the first time for Germany's men's national team.[20]
Personal life
He is younger brother of the Turkish player Mutlu Akpınar.
References
- Will, Frank (20 January 2012). "Jugend-Nationalspieler Ismet Akpinar fehlt Rist". www.abendblatt.de (in German). Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "PROB_2011-2012 Basketball League GERMANY - eurobasket.com". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "Awards der Jugend Basketball Bundesliga - JBBL". NBBL und JBBL (in German). Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "Awards der Nachwuchs Basketball Bundesliga - NBBL". NBBL und JBBL (in German). Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "ALBA Berlin lock up German star U18 talent Akpinar for four years". heinnews. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "easyCredit - Awards: Leibenath "Trainer des Jahres" - Auszeichnung für Akpinar". www.easycredit-bbl.de (in German). Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- "Ismet Akpinar inks with Ratiopharm Ulm". Sportando.net. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
- "Ismet Akpinar named MVP, Team National beats Team International in German All-Star Game". Eurohoops. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- "Ismet Akpinar signs with Besiktas". Sportando. July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
- "Bayern Munich adds Ismet Akpinar, Djedovic and Monroe out for BBL Final Tournament". Sportando. May 25, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- "Ismet Akpinar joins Bahçeşehir". Sportando. July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- "SON DAKİKA: Fenerbahçe Beko, İsmet Akpınar Transferini Açıkladı!". Eurohoops (in Turkish). 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
- "DBB-U15 Jungen beenden North Sea Development Basketball Cup auf Platz 2 « Deutscher Basketball Bund". www.basketball-bund.de. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "Ismet Akpinar | U16 European Championship Men (2011) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- Stars, Future. "Future Stars: International Basketball Tournament and Coaching Conference". futurestars.uk.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "Ismet Akpinar | U18 European Championship Men (2012) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "Ismet Akpinar | U18 European Championship Men (2013) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "Ismet Akpinar | U20 European Championship Men (2014) | FIBA Europe". www.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "Ismet Akpinar | U20 Europe Championship Men - Division A". u20men.fibaeurope.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
- "DBB-Herren 2017 nominiert « Deutscher Basketball Bund". www.basketball-bund.de. Retrieved 2017-07-13.