Doğuş Balbay

Doğuş Balbay (Turkish pronunciation: [doˈuʃ balˈbaj]; born 21 January 1989) is a Turkish professional basketball player who last played for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He is 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) tall and he plays at the point guard position.[1]

Doğuş Balbay
Doğuş with Anadolu Efes in 2017
Free agent
PositionPoint guard
Personal information
Born (1989-01-21) 21 January 1989
Istanbul, Turkey
NationalityTurkish
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High schoolBrewster Academy
(Wolfeboro, New Hampshire)
CollegeTexas (2008–2011)
NBA draft2011: undrafted
Playing career2004–present
Career history
2004–2006Fenerbahçe
2011–2023Anadolu Efes
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Turkey
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place2013 Mersin

Amateur career
Balbay playing with Texas in February 2009

Doğuş Balbay started playing basketball in the Turkish club Fenerbahçe. After two years in the Turkish Basketball League, he moved to Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, U.S. to study.

Balbay spent the last two years playing on the Under-18 Turkish national team, and he helped the squad place fourth at the 2006 European Championships. He also played two years on the Under-16 Turkish national team and led that squad to the 2005 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship.

He led Brewster to a 29–6 record and a runner-up finish at the NEPSAC Class A Championship while averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 assists per game during his senior season under coach Jason Smith.

After Balbay signed a letter of intent with Texas, Longhorns' head coach Rick Barnes declared that "Dogus is an important pickup for our program, as he will provide us quality depth at the point guard position." Barnes also said that Dogus "has a clever international game and good athleticism. Dogus is a strong perimeter defender and a good play maker who has the ability to score in the lane."

At the midway mark of the 2009–10 season, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas named Balbay one of the two top perimeter defenders in college basketball that season, along with Chris Kramer of Purdue. Bilas said about Balbay,

Balbay puts the best pressure on the ball of anyone I have seen all season long. With his ball pressure, teams have a difficult time running offense against Texas, and Balbay has taken more than one quality point guard out of the game this season.[2]

Doğuş was not drafted in the 2011 NBA draft but was linked with various European teams, including his native Fenerbahçe. His strength, versality, defensive prowess and speed is said to resemble Fenerbahçe and national player Ömer Onan.

ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla named Doğuş his favourite player in the 2011 Eurocamp.[3]

Professional career

In July 2011, he signed a three-year contract with Anadolu Efes.[4] He won the 2012 BSL All-Star Slam Dunk Contest, securing the win by jumping over Anadolu Efes teammate and 2010 BSL All-Star Slam Dunk Contest champion Sinan Güler on his way to the basket.[5] In May 2014, he re-signed his contract with Anadolu Efes.[6]

On 23 June 2023, Balbay amicably parted ways with the Turkish powerhouse after 12 seasons together.

Personal life

He is the son of Mithat (father) and Şükran (mother) Balbay, and has one older sister, Derya. He was married 8 July 2017 to Erica Balbay.

See also

References
  1. Transfer news Retrieved 22 May 2007 Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Bilas, Jay (12 January 2010). "Scheyer, Wall lead All-America team". ESPN.com. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  3. "- YouTube". YouTube.
  4. "Efes signs youngster Balbay". euroleague.net. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  5. "TBL All-Star Game: Sasha Vujacic Named MVP, Dogus Balbay Takes Dunk Contest". BallInEurope.com. ESPN TrueHoop Network. 23 January 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  6. "Semih'le yollar ayrılıyor! (Video)". ntvspor.net (in Turkish). NTV Spor. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
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