History
Efes Pilsen Basketball team has been founded in 1976. Kadıköyspor, which was no longer able to play 2nd division because of financial problems, has been taken over and Efes Pilsen Basketball team had the start with the presidency of Mr.Tuncay Özilhan.
Being founded by taking over Kadıköyspor, Efes Pilsen, completed games for second division and also all its games in 1977-78 seasons in Turkish second division, without a loss.
Efes Pilsen, which completed the normal season at the 3rd place behind Eczacıbaşı and Tofaş, showed a great effort in the final round and won the championship in 1978-79 season in the Turkish Basketball League 1st Division, where it took place for the very first time. Efes Pilsen Basketball Team once more won the Turkish Championship and right after this, it was repeated in 1983-84 season again, 2 championships in a row.
Efes Pilsen has been the first Turkish team, which played in the quarter finals in Korac Cup, in 1990. Efes Pilsen, which after 7 seasons reached the championship 3 times in a row in years 1992-1994, qualified to the final in Eurocup, in 1993 and lost at the final played in Torino, against Arsi from Greece by 48-50.
Aydın Örs is the name who carried Efes Pilsen, which started its Europe journey in 1970-80 seasons in 90?s. In 19 years Europe career, Efes Pilsen played 182 games in total where it had 111 wins, 71 loses and a success ratio of 61%. By being one of the most experienced clubs of the league, Efes Pilsen played 116 games with Aydın Örs, where it won 83 and lost 33 and reached a success ratio 71%. Örs? team in 58 cup games out of 85 and also got success in Cup 2.
The season 1996 brought with the greatest success in Europe. Efes Pilsen won the Korac Cup and been the first Turkish team celebrating a cup in Europe. Beating Teamsystem Bologna in semi finals, Efes Pilsen won against Italy?s Stefanel Milano, which played in finals 3 years in a row with scores; 76-68 and 70-77.
In 1996-97 season, Efes Pilsen once more won the Turkish Championship, for the 8th time as a team and for the 5th time with coach Aydın Örs.
With Aydın Örs? leaving in 1999, the young couch Ergin Ataman, who brought the Saporta Cup to Monte Paschi Siena Italy, took over the team.
Efes Pilsen qualified for the Final Four in 2000 and took place in the European League in Thessalonica. After loosing the first day against Panathinaikos, Efes Pilsen won against Barcelona with its players, Rentzias an Gurovic, on the game for 3rd place by 75-69 and let the Barcelona to be the 4th.
Ergin Ataman, who carried his team to the 3rd place in Europe, resinged the next year after the losses against Telekom, in the Turkish Basketball League, and against Pau Ortez in Superleague. And a young coach left his place to another young one, Oktay Mahmudi. Oktay Mahmudi, who standing coached the team for two games won both, after Aydın Örs? resinging, this time became the head coach of the team. During this period Efes Pilsen got the 3rd place in Superleague Final Four behind Maccabi and Panathinaikos; won 18 games and lost 8 games.
During 2001-2002 season Efes Pilsen has beaten Ülkerspor in finals by 4-2 and reached the championship for the 9th time and deserved the title as "the most championship winner" in the Turkish League.
Although Efes Pilsen, after qualifing to the top 16 in Euroleague, played many successful games could not recover the losses against Kinder Bologna and Real Madrid home court and so could not qualify for the Final Four. Having a hard time during the 2002-2003 season Efes Pilsen once more met Ülkerspor at the final series. Leading the finals 3-1 Efes Pilsen could not finish off their opponent and eventually the series evened out at 3-3. The last and decisive game for the Turkish Championship was won by Efes Pilsen and they reached their 10th championship. The interesting footnote is that this win was taken at Ülkerspor?s home court which once more puts out Efes Pilsen?s character.
Efes Pilsen is the first Turkish Basketball Team to be invited to America to make preparation games at the beginning of 2006-07 season according to the aggreement made by NBA and Euroleague. Efes Pilsen played against Denver Nuggets on October 10th, 2006 and against Golden State Warrios on October 12th, 2006 which was the first time for such kind of a game played between a Turkish team and an NBA team in America.
At the beginning of the following season Efes Pilsen hosted Minnesota Timberwolves from NBA for a preparation camp and a friendly game. A first NBA team was in Turkey for a camp, and a first game a Turkish team played against an NBA team in Turkey.
Making many first fists come alive in Turkey with its championships and cup winnings, Efes Pilsen also takes a very important place among the Turkish teams when the trained players and coaches are considered. With 26 years commitment to strong youth programs Efes Pilsen in known for producing world quality talent in players and coaches alike.
Aydın Örs, who celebrated 5 championships and lived many international experiences with Efes Pilsen, is coaching the Turkish National Team today. And Ergin Ataman, who headed to Italy and with his team Monte Paschi Siena, which was an average team of the Italian League, brought the Saporta Cup to Siena.
Players like; Mirsad Türkcan, Hidayet Türkoğlu, Hüseyin Beşok, Mehmet Okur are the successful examples of Efes Pilsen youth program.

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