Quick Facts
Biography
İsmet Akpınar (Turkish: İsmet Akpınar, born May 22, 1995) is a Turkish-German professional basketball player for Bayern Munich of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).
Early years
Akpınar started his career in the BC Hamburg youth ranks. At the age of 16, he made his professional debut with SC Rist Wedel in the ProB, the third tier of German basketball, earning Eurobasket.com All-German ProB Rookie of the Year honors following the 2011–12 season. At the same time, he excelled at the youth level playing for Piraten Hamburg and was named JBBL (under-16 Bundesliga) Player of the Year in 2011 as well as NBBL (under-19 Bundesliga) Rookie of the Year the following season.
Professional career
In February 2013, Akpınar agreed on a four-year deal with Bundesliga side Alba Berlin. In the 2016-17 season, he received the BBL Best German Young Player Award.
On June 7, 2017, he signed with ratiopharm Ulm. In the 2017–18 season, he was invited for the BBL All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
On July 30, 2019, he has signed contract with Beşiktaş Sompo Japan of the Basketbol Süper Ligi.
On May 25, 2020, he has signed with Bayern Munich of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).
National team
Akpınar has represented the German Junior National Teams on many occasions. In August 2010, he played in the North Sea Development Basketball Cup, guiding the German under-15 squad to a second-place finish.
He was part of the German U16 National Team, competing in the 2011 under-16 European Championships, and was selected to play for Germany's U18 team at the 2012 Albert-Schweitzer-Tournament as well as at the 2012 and 2013 under-18 European Championships. In 2014 and 2015, he played for his country in the under-20 European Championships. In the summer of 2017, he was capped for the first time for Germany's men's national team.
Personal
He is younger brother of the Turkish player Mutlu Akpınar.