Set to compete in the BKT EuroCup after seven years away, Besiktas Istanbul has revamped its roster in the hope of putting together a competitive run. The club first appointed as its new head coach former EuroCup Coach of the Year, Dusan Alimpijevic, who knows a thing or two about making long runs in the competition, having guided Frutti Extra Bursaspor to the EuroCup Finals in 2022. With a squad that has a fine mixture of experience and talented youth, something that worked for him in the past, the hope is that Alimpijevic will guide Besiktas to a successful EuroCup return.
BACKCOURT
Coach Alimpijevic has put the team's offense in the hands of Derek Needham, who arrived with the coach from Bursaspor where he was his right-hand man on the court. The two were together the past two seasons and Needham was named to the All-EuroCup First Team in 2021-22. Needham is capable of turning any offense into a highly potent one. He and Berk Ugurlu, the team's second-string point guard who is battle-tested himself, will have in Jonah Mathews and Matt Mitchell a couple of big weapons who can make Besiktas's offense a dangerous one.
Both Mathews and Mitchell arrive from France, where Mathews averaged 10.6 points in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. He can help with playmaking duties, too. Small forward Mitchell is a prolific scorer, too. In addition, swingman Yigit Arslan had his coming-out party last season, for the first time averaging double digits in points in the Turkish League, while knocking down 2.5 triples per game on 43.9% shooting. This backcourt bunch makes Besiktas's offense a dangerous one.