Ersan İlyasova is a Turkish basketball player selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2005 NBA draft. He is known for a long professional career that included stints with teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and Oklahoma City Thunder. His tenure in the league spanned thirteen seasons and featured a notable 2012 performance where he recorded 29 points and 25 rebounds in a single game.
The Milwaukee Bucks selected Ersan İlyasova with the 36th overall pick during the 2005 NBA draft, initiating a professional journey that spanned thirteen seasons in the league. Originally beginning his career in Turkey with Yeşilyurt, the forward transitioned across multiple international and domestic rosters, eventually becoming a recurring presence for the Milwaukee organization over four separate stints.
Early Career and International Transitions
İlyasova started in the Turkish second-division with Yeşilyurt during the 2003–04 season before advancing to the top-tier Turkish Basketball League. He joined Ülkerspor for the 2004–05 campaign, where he averaged 4.5 points per game. By July 2007, he moved to Spain, signing a two-year contract with FC Barcelona. His tenure in the Liga ACB proved successful, culminating in a league championship in 2009. He returned briefly to Turkey in 2011 to play for Anadolu Efes during the NBA lockout.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Longevity in the National Basketball Association
His primary professional tenure occurred within the NBA, characterized by high mobility between franchises. After spending his 2005–06 season with the Tulsa 66ers in the Development League, he debuted for the Bucks in November 2006. His performance reached a peak on February 19, 2012, when he recorded 29 points and 25 rebounds against the New Jersey Nets. This feat matched a franchise standard previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Swen Nater. Later, he achieved a career-high of 34 points in a 2015 game against the Indiana Pacers.
Multi-Team Tenure
Following his initial years in Milwaukee, İlyasova played for the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Oklahoma City Thunder. In November 2016, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers, where he recorded three separate 23-point games late that year. He also served a second stint with Philadelphia in 2018. His career concluded with a short tenure at the Utah Jazz in 2021 and an unsuccessful contract with the Chicago Bulls later that same year.
Background and Identity
Born on May 15, 1987, in Eskişehir, İlyasova is the son of Anvar and Iraliye İlyasova. He is married to Julia, with whom he has three children. The athlete maintains a distinct public profile regarding his origins, which became the subject of a formal grievance by the Uzbekistan Basketball Federation regarding his true identity and age. This dispute centered on claims involving a different individual born in Bukhara.
Fast facts
- Born: 15 May 1987, Eskişehir
- NBA Draft: 2005, 36th overall pick
- Primary Position: Power forward
- Professional Debut: Yeşilyurt (2003)
- Significant Achievement: 29 points and 25 rebounds in one game (2012)
- Religion: Muslim
- Spouse: Julia
- Total NBA Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls
Questions readers ask
Which NBA teams did Ersan İlyasova play for?
He played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, and Chicago Bulls.
Is there a dispute regarding his identity?
Yes, the Uzbekistan Basketball Federation filed a grievance claiming he was actually an individual born in Bukhara in 1984, challenging his declared age and national origin.
