 Karaman in 2018 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1990-05-13)May 13, 1990 Çerkezköy,Tekirdağ, Turkey[1] |
| Died | September 8, 2024(2024-09-08) (aged 34) Datça,Muğla, Turkey |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 247 lb (112 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2012: 2nd round, 57th overall pick |
| Selected by theBrooklyn Nets | |
| Playing career | 2007–2024 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Career history | |
| 2007–2011 | Tofaş Bursa |
| 2011–2012 | Pınar Karşıyaka |
| 2012–2014 | Fenerbahçe |
| 2015–2016 | Acıbadem Üniversitesi |
| 2016–2017 | Beşiktaş |
| 2017 | İstanbul BB |
| 2018 | Büyükçekmece |
| 2018–2019 | Pınar Karşıyaka |
| 2019–2020 | Cholet |
| 2020 | Antibes Sharks |
| 2021 | Petkim Spor |
| 2021–2022 | Semt77 Yalovaspor |
| 2022 | Tofaş Bursa |
| 2022 | Manisa BB |
| 2023 | Formosa Taishin Dreamers |
| 2023–2024 | Çayırova Belediyesi |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats atBasketball Reference  | |
İlkan Karaman (May 13, 1990 – September 8, 2024) was a Turkish professional basketball player.
Karaman made his professional debut in theTB2L withTofaş Bursa during the 2007–08 season. He signed a contract withPınar Karşıyaka after playing four years for Tofaş Bursa.
On August 17, 2012, Karaman signed a three-year contract withFenerbahçe.[2] In the 2012–13 season Karaman played in 29 games for Fenerbahçe in theTurkish Basketball League and 22 games in theEuroLeague.[3] In the 2013 off-season he underwentarthroscopic surgery on both knees to relieve chronicpatellar tendinitis, which prevented him from playing the following season.[4] On July 1, 2014, he parted ways with Fenerbahçe.[5]
On October 14, 2015, Karaman signed withAcıbadem Üniversitesi of theTurkish Basketball Second League.[6]
On September 1, 2016, he signed withBeşiktaş for the 2016–17 season.[7]
On July 12, 2017, Karaman signed withİstanbul BB.[8] He left Istanbul after appearing in eight league games. On January 16, 2018, he signed withBüyükçekmece.[9]
On November 14, 2019, he signed withCholet of theLNB Pro A.[10]
On October 20, 2020, he signed withAntibes Sharks of theLNB Pro B.[11]
On January 20, 2021, he signed withPetkim Spor of the TurkishBasketball Super League.[12]
On September 30, 2021, he signed withSemt77 Yalovaspor of the TurkishBasketball Super League.[13]
On June 25, 2022, Karaman signed withTofaş of the TurkishBasketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and returned to the club after 11 seasons.[14]
On December 23, 2022, he signed withManisa BB of the Turkish BSL.[15]
On January 20, 2023, he signed withFormosa Taishin Dreamers of the TaiwaneseP. League+ (PLG).
On October 27, 2023, Karaman signed withÇayırova Belediyesi of theTBL.[16]
Karaman was selected by theBrooklyn Nets with the 57th pick of the2012 NBA draft.[17] He became officially the first player drafted by the Nets after their move to Brooklyn (the team acquired two higher picks in exchange for cash after they were selected by other teams). After the draft Nets general managerBilly King stated that the team intended for Karaman to develop his skills while continuing to play in Europe. This process (often referred to as "Euro-stashing") allowed the Nets to retain Karaman's NBA rights without offering him a contract.[18]
On July 10, 2014, Karaman's rights were traded to theCleveland Cavaliers.[19]
On November 18, 2020, Karaman's draft rights were traded to theMilwaukee Bucks, in exchange for a 2025 second-round draft pick.[20]
Karaman was a regularTurkish youth national team player. He also played forTurkish national team in theEuroBasket 2013 qualification.
Karaman died on September 8, 2024, inDatça after he was hit by a car driven by a drunk driver.[21] Karaman was 34.[22] Two days later, he was buried inKapaklı,Tekirdağ.[23]
In a separate transaction with the Milwaukee Bucks on November 18th, the Cavaliers acquired the Bucks' 2025 second round draft pick in exchange for the draft rights to Ilkan Karaman (originally drafted in 2012 by the Brooklyn Nets).