Anadolu Efes is more than just a basketball club; it’s an institution that has redefined sport in Turkey and left an indelible mark on the European scene. From humble beginnings to consecutive EuroLeague titles, the club’s story is one of perseverance, ambition and excellence.

The club was founded in 1976 as Efes Pilsen Spor Kulübü, following the acquisition of Kadıköy Sports. Its initial aim was clear: to promote youth basketball and successfully represent Turkey on the international stage. From the outset, the club has demonstrated ambition, rapidly climbing the ranks of Turkish basketball.

Efes Pilsen soon established itself as a dominant force. In 1978, the team was promoted to the Turkish top flight. By 1979, they had already won their first Turkish championship, a resounding feat that was to launch a prolonged era of success. Over the decades, the club accumulated national titles, becoming one of the most successful in the country.

But Efes’ ambitions were not limited to Turkey’s borders. The 1990s marked a crucial stage in its evolution. Under the leadership of coach Aydın Örs, the team reached heights never before seen for a Turkish club. The high point of this period was the 1995-1996 season, when Efes Pilsen won the Korać Cup, becoming the first Turkish club to lift a European trophy. This historic victory paved the way for a new generation of players and proved that Turkey could compete with the continent’s giants.

By the early 2000s, the club had firmly established itself as a regular in the EuroLeague Final Four, although it often failed to reach the final stage. The club continued to produce and attract talent, while maintaining its domestic supremacy. In 2011, the club changed its name to Anadolu Efes Spor Kulübü, a name that has become synonymous with its identity and values.

However, the real turning point came under coach Ergin Ataman, as the team transformed into a war machine. The combination of his leadership and the arrival of world-class players like Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micić created a perfect alchemy. The 2019-2020 season looked set to be the one, only to be rudely interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic as Efes dominated the league. This disappointment fueled a thirst for revenge, concretized the following 2 seasons with a historic back-to-back.

Buoyed by a duo of legendary backs, Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micić – MVP of the Final Four – Anadolu Efes displayed a spectacular attacking style of play and claimed their first EuroLeague trophy at the Final Four in Cologne. In the semi-finals, Efes faced CSKA Moscow, revenge for a 2019 final, and then it will be FC Barcelona’s turn in the final.

The following season, Anadolu Efes had to overcome no less recognized opponents in the EuroLeague, Olympiacos in the semi-finals before facing Real Madrid for the title. Again, it was Vasilije Micić who led the way – MVP of both the regular season and the Final Four – in a hard-fought game (58-57). The Turkish club has entered a very select circle of teams who have successfully defended their European crown (Maccabi Tel Aviv (2005) and Olympiacos (2013) in the modern EuroLeague era).

Two consecutive EuroLeague titles have cemented Anadolu Efes’ status as a veritable European basketball dynasty. While the Anadolu Efes roster has retained some players, the club is still in search of European success in its post-Ataman era. Cocorico, there are no less than 3 French players in the Turkish club’s 2025-2026 roster, with the signing of Isaïa Cordinier, who joins Rodrigue Beaubois and Vincent Poirier.