Furkan Aldemir

Furkan Aldemir — Biography

Furkan Aldemir is a former Turkish international who, at 2.08 m, played mainly as a power forward and as a centre when needed. He won the 2012-13 Turkish title with Galatasaray, spent a season in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, and finished his professional career at Darüşşafaka. With the national team he played at the 2014 World Cup.

He came up through the Pınar Karşıyaka youth system, played his first Turkish league game in 2007-08 and was picked for the All-Star game in 2009-10. In June 2011 he agreed a four-year deal with Galatasaray; in 2012-13 he stood out in the play-offs on the way to the title and was named MVP of a game against Banvit. The Los Angeles Clippers took him 53rd in the 2012 NBA draft, his rights went to the Houston Rockets, and in July 2013 to the Philadelphia 76ers. After leaving Galatasaray he signed with the 76ers in December 2014 and played his first NBA game that same day, against the Boston Celtics. He was waived in October 2015 and signed a four-year contract with Darüşşafaka in November 2015. In all he played eleven professional seasons.

With the youth national teams he won bronze at the 2009 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship; at the 2011 Under-20 European Championship he averaged 14.8 points and 15.9 rebounds per game, was the leading rebounder and made the all-tournament five. For the senior side he played in the 2013 EuroBasket qualifiers and at the 2014 World Cup. In February 2025 he spoke in glowing terms about Alperen Şengün.