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Marc Stein: Source close to talks confirms Dwight Powell is signing with Turkish power Fenerbahçe to play for Šarūnas Jasikevičius. After 12 years in Dallas, Powell could not force his way onto the Mavs' roster in training camp with 15 guaranteed contracts ahead of him.
Fenerbahce Istanbul are finalizing an agreement to sign veteran NBA center Dwight Powell, sources tell BasketNews. Per sources, a 13-year NBA veteran is set to join the Turkish club on a one-year deal.
Galatasaray MCT Technic president Dursun Ozbek reaffirmed the club’s intent to enter a new top-tier league, widely referred to as NBA Europe. Speaking at the annual general assembly meeting at the Halic Congress Center on Saturday, he updated members on the organization’s vision. “Our men’s basketball team started the season with significant goals,” stated Ozbek. “We are continuing discussions with NBA officials and investors regarding the NBA Europe project. I will share good news about this venture with you later this year. Our ultimate aim is to regain our place at the highest level in men’s basketball and achieve sustainable success there.”
Anadolu Efes has officially announced the signing of Cameron Payne. The American point guard, who played for Partizan last season and has a long NBA career behind him, has signed a contract with the Turkish club through the end of the 2026-27 season.
Türkiye are celebrating booking their spot at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 after collecting the win they needed against Iceland to confirm their ticket.
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Mario Hezonja delivered a spectacular performance as Croatia faced Turkey at a friendly tournament in Hamburg ahead of the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying window. Hezonja scored 37 points and hit the decisive step-back three-pointer with four seconds remaining to give Croatia a 95-94 victory.
Turkiye has announced its 17-man preliminary roster for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers window, with Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun notably absent. Sengun, one of the biggest names in Turkish basketball and a centerpiece of the national team in recent years, was not included in head coach Ergin Ataman's squad for the upcoming games against Lithuania and Iceland.
Besiktas Istanbul have announced another addition ahead of their long-awaited return to the EuroLeague next season. The club officially confirmed the signing of former NBA guard Jaylen Nowell. The 27-year-old has appeared in more than 200 NBA games, representing the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, and New Orleans Pelicans, among other teams.
Turkiye has announced its preliminary roster for the upcoming FIBA World Cup European qualifiers, with Ergin Ataman preparing a deep and talent-filled squad for the next international window. The Turkish national team will feature a mix of EuroLeague players, young prospects, and NBA talent as they continue their strong run in Group C. The biggest names on the roster are NBA players Alperen Sengun and Adem Bona. Ataman's squad also includes several experienced EuroLeague and national team regulars.
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul veteran guard Nando De Colo is approaching the end of his remarkable career. After previously hinting that retirement might follow a EuroLeague title with Fenerbahce, the 38-year-old has now confirmed that the 2025-26 season will be his last. Speaking to BeBasket, De Colo clarified: "I didn't say I would retire if we won the EuroLeague. But to be transparent, this will be my last season." This decision has been on his mind for some time. "I've been thinking about it for a while," he said. "Since the beginning of the season, I've had it in the back of my mind that this was going to be my last season."
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Former NBA big man Kai Jones has signed a two-year extension with Anadolu Efes, the Turkish club announced in a press release. The 19th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Jones technically holds four years of NBA experience even though he didn’t appear in a game in 2023/24 — he signed a 10-day contract with Philadelphia near the end of that campaign.
Lachard Binkley: Alperen's home country, Turkiye, usually has to watch Rockets games in the middle of the night because of the time zone difference. I asked Alperen what he thinks it means to his home country to see him in his second all-star game. The most by any Turkish born player. “I believe it means a lot. The last few years Turkey we had had some earthquakes a lot of bad stuff went out there so I am always happy to give them the great news.”
Alperen's home country, Turkiye, usually has to watch Rockets games in the middle of the night because of the time zone difference.
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) February 9, 2026
I asked Alperen what he thinks it means to his home country to see him in his second all-star game. The most by any Turkish born player.
“I… pic.twitter.com/ND9eUx9InO
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal on Tuesday in Istanbul, turning a routine photo opportunity into a striking snapshot of sports diplomacy. The meeting took place on the court at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center, where Erdogan and the 7-foot-1 Hall of Famer posed together and exchanged signed basketballs, a simple gesture that carried symbolic weight in a country where basketball has grown into a national passion.
Representatives from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, two soccer and basketball heavyweights, Olimpia Milano, Panathinaikos, ASVEL, Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin were participants, signaling their interest in joining NBA Europe. NBA officials met privately with Fenerbahce, a top European team from Istanbul, last week in Berlin. Additionally, representatives from English soccer giant Manchester City were there, as were executives from Italian soccer powerhouse AC Milan, signaling their intent to either create new teams in their cities or invest further in existing teams.