Anadolu Efes S.K.


Anadolu Efes Spor Kulübü, commonly referred to as Anadolu Efes or simply Efes, is a Turkish professional basketball team based in Istanbul. Founded in 1976, the club was formerly known as Efes Pilsen until 2011. Efes is the 2021–22 Euroleague champion and on the first place of European [professional basketball club rankings|European Club Ranking] after the Final Four 2020–21. Efes is also the most successful club in the history of the Turkish Super League, having won the league's championship 16 times. Efes has won a total of 42 domestic trophies, more than any other Turkish basketball club.
The home arena of Anadolu Efes S.K. is the Turkcell Basketball Development Center in Istanbul, which has a seating capacity of 10,000 for basketball games. The club has its own practice facility in the district of Bahçelievler, which was built in 1982. The team competes in the Turkish Super League and the EuroLeague. The team is owned by the Efes Beverage Group.
Anadolu Efes has developed a fierce rivalry with Fenerbahçe in recent years. The two clubs often meet in playoff series and cup finals.

History

The club was established in 1976 as Efes Pilsen S.K., by taking over the Turkish second-division club Kadıköyspor, which had failed due to financial problems. Its initial sponsor was its former longtime namesake, Efes Pilsen, a subsidiary of the Anadolu Group. It won the 1978 Turkish second division national championship undefeated, earning promotion to the Turkish first division, where it has continuously competed ever since. In its first top-flight season, Efes Pilsen S.K. won the Turkish national league title, immediately establishing itself as one of the country's top clubs.
After finishing 2nd in the 1992–93 FIBA European Cup, Efes Pilsen S.K. won the 1995–96 FIBA Korać Cup, which marked the first-ever European-wide title won by a Turkish club in any team sport. Efes Pilsen S.K. has also become a fixture in the European-wide top-tier level EuroLeague, making it to the competition's EuroLeague Final Four in 2000 [FIBA EuroLeague Final Four|2000], and also to the FIBA SuproLeague's 2001 [FIBA SuproLeague Final Four|2001 Final Four], and finishing 3rd on both occasions.
In 2011, the club changed its name to Anadolu Efes S.K., after the TAPDK in Turkey prohibited the advertisement of tobacco and alcohol products in sports organizations.
In the 2017–18 season, Efes finished in the 16th and last place in the EuroLeague.
In the 2018–19 season, Efes had success in the EuroLeague as it managed to clinch the fourth-seed in the regular season. In the play-offs, the team beat FC Barcelona to advance to its first EuroLeague Final Four in 19 years. In the semi-final, Efes beat Fenerbahçe 92–73 to reach its first EuroLeague Final in history. In the championship game, Efes was defeated by CSKA Moscow, eventually finishing as the runner-up. In the same season, Efes won its first BSL championship since 2009. In Game 7 of the Finals against Fenerbahçe, Efes won 89–74 after Shane Larkin scored 38 points. Larkin was later named BSL Finals MVP.
In the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons Anadolu Efes won back-to-back EuroLeague Championships. But later in the following 2022–23 EuroLeague season they had ended 11th place in the season and out of the playoff bound.

Home arenas

For many years, Efes has used the Abdi İpekçi Arena, with a seating capacity of 12,270, to host its home games. From 2017 to 2024, Efes uses the 16,000 seat Sinan Erdem Dome for its home games.
Since 2024, they used their newly opened arena Basketball Development Centre using their home games

Honours

Domestic competitions

Turkish Super LeagueTurkish Cup

European competitions

EuroLeagueFIBA Saporta Cup

Other competitions

FIBA International Christmas Tournament

Notable players

Players at the [NBA draft]

PositionPlayerYearRoundPickDrafted by
PF

International record

Matches against NBA teams

In 2006, Efes Pilsen became the first Turkish basketball club to be invited to play with NBA teams. They competed against the Denver Nuggets in Denver, Colorado on October 11, and against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, California on October 12. In 2007, Efes Pilsen hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Abdi İpekçi Arena.

Head coaches