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| No. 5 – Beşiktaş Emlakjet | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard |
| League | Basketbol Süper Ligi |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1990-10-20)October 20, 1990 (age 34) Dolton, Illinois, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Montenegrin |
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 181 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | De La Salle Institute (Chicago, Illinois) |
| College | Fairfield (2010–2013) |
| NBA draft | 2013:undrafted |
| Playing career | 2013–present |
| Career history | |
| 2013–2014 | Šiauliai |
| 2014–2015 | Khimik |
| 2015–2016 | Löwen Braunschweig |
| 2016–2017 | Reggiana |
| 2017–2018 | Mornar Bar |
| 2018–2019 | Monaco |
| 2019 | Rytas Vilnius |
| 2019–2021 | Mornar Bar |
| 2021–2023 | Frutti Extra Bursaspor |
| 2023–present | Beşiktaş |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Derek Needham (born October 20, 1990) is an American-born naturalizedMontenegrin professionalbasketball player forBeşiktaş Emlakjet of theBasketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). Standing at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), he plays thepoint guard position. Needham played college basketball forFairfield University where he was named to the CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-America team in 2010 and was All-MAAC for four straight years between 2010 and 2013.[1] Since 2017, Needham represents the seniorMontenegrin national basketball team in international competitions.
Needham is a native ofDolton, Illinois and attended theDe La Salle Institute inChicago, Illinois. During his senior season in 2009, Needham helped theMeteors basketball team reach the Class 4A sectional final while earning All-Chicago Catholic League and All-State second team honors. Needham also received theGeorge Eastman Young Leaders Award and was named to theChicago Catholic League All-Academic team.[1]
Needham played college basketball forFairfield University inFairfield, Connecticut from 2010 to 2013. During his freshman season with theFairfield Stags, Needham earnedMAAC Rookie of the Year after receiving a then league record 10 Rookie of the Week awards and setting Fairfield freshman records with 543 points and 172 assists. He was also named to theCollegeInsider.com Freshman All-America team.[2] Needham is third on the all-time scoring list at Fairfield, with 1,875 points and 535 assists. He set a new record for three-pointers in a season, with 74 in his senior year. He earned All-MAAC honors during all four seasons, and earned spots on theNABC Division I All-District 1, All-Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) andAll-Jesuit teams.[1]
During the 2013–2014 season, Needham played forBC Šiauliai in theLithuanian Basketball League andBaltic Basketball League.[3]
During the 2014–2015 season, Needham ledBC Khimik to a perfect 36–0 season and theUkrainian Basketball SuperLeague championship. He was named the most valuable player of the championship.[4]
During the 2015–2016 season, Needham first played forBasketball Löwen Braunschweig in theBasketball Bundesliga and then joinedPallacanestro Reggiana in theLega Basket Serie A. He helped leadPallacanestro Reggiana to theLega Basket Serie A championship game where he competed against his formerFairfield Stags teammateRakim Sanders ofOlimpia Milano.[5]
On July 12, 2017, Needham signed with Montenegrin clubMornar.[6]
Following the 2017–2018 season, EuroBasket.com named Needham to its FIBA All-Imports team after finishing 5th in scoring (17.2 ppg) and leadingMornar to the quarterfinals of2017–18 FIBA Europe Cup Play-offs.
On June 30, 2021, he has signed withFrutti Extra Bursaspor of theBasketbol Süper Ligi.[7]
On June 29, 2023, he signed withBeşiktaş of theBasketbol Süper Ligi.[8]
Needham is a citizen ofMontenegro and is a member of theMontenegro national team since 2017.[9] He was part of the Montenegro team that qualified for the2019 FIBA World Cup.