The team captain became the only player to with the EuroLeague twice with Fenerbahce
Tribute to the Champs: Melih Mahmutoglu
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Melih Mahmutoglu was the team captain and the longest-tenured player on this season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions as he lifted the EuroLeague trophy for the second time in his career.
The sharpshooter, who turned 35 years of age late in the season, completed a memorable campaign with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, which he first joined in 2013. Mahmutoglu proved to be as reliable a shooter as ever and scored the 1,000th point of his EuroLeague career.
Although he played a total of 33 minutes in six EuroLeague games this season – both career lows – Mahmutoglu's contributions to Fenerbahce cannot be overlooked. Whether it was his leadership from the bench, his key contributions in Round 18 when the backcourt was shorthanded, or his role in the Turkish League, Mahmutoglu was always there for his team.
Defenses always had to respect Mahmutoglu, who maintained his career average by making 40% of his three-pointers this season. That number rose to 47.1% in the Turkish League as Mahmutoglu featured for nearly 20 minutes per game, not only helping the team finish atop the regular-season standings, but allowing for the guards who carry heavier loads in the EuroLeague to rest some.
As the season neared its end and the Fenerbahce roster returned to full force, Mahmutoglu did not dress for the games in the Playoffs or the Final Four. But he continued to push the team forward as one of its leaders.
When they achieved the dream of winning the EuroLeague, the team captain took his rightful place to receive the championship trophy for his team from Euroleague Basketball President Dejan Bodiroga. And then, in a gesture fitting of someone with Mahmutoglu's class and professionalism, he called upon the team's second-longest serving player, Marko Guduric, and gave him the honor of hoisting the trophy upwards to signify the start of the celebrations.