Ersan Ilyasova Profile
Ersan Ilyasova is a Turkish Basketball player currently playing in the NBA. He started his career in Ulker playing in the pro Turkish league. In 2004-2005 Ersan was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round. He didn’t play any games for the Bucks that season but instead played for the Tulsa 66ers in the D-League.
The following season, Ersan Ilyasova played 65 games for the Bucks where he average six points per game and three rebounds per game in 15 minutes of play. The next two seasons he spent in the Euroleague in Spain playing for Barcelona. In July of 2009, he signed a two year contract worth seven million dollars with the Milwaukee Bucks. Ersan is now a starter seeing major minutes in the NBA.
Ersan Ilyasova Scouting Report
Ersan is 6’10 and weighs around 107 kilograms. His natural position is at small forward, but he is comfortable playing anything except for center. He is as versatile of players you can find in the NBA. Many people compare his game to Hidayet Turkoglu, partly because they are both of Turkish Nationality, but the similarities run deeper than that. Since they are both long players who can both shoot the ball and dribble, they create match up nightmares for opposing defenses.
One of Ersan Ilyasova’s favorite plays is dribbling around near the three point line and then creating room by stepping back for a three pointer. His shot is a little unorthodox but he’s capable of shooting it at a decent percentage and from practically anywhere on the floor.
Ersan’s biggest strength comes in his activity level when he is on the floor. You will be hard pressed to ever find him standing still. On offense, if he doesn’t have the ball, he will set screens, trying to make back cuts, and challenge the offensive boards whenever there’s the slighest of chance. On defense, he will play as hard defense as you can find a 6’10 European play. Besides that, he will be active defender as a help defender as well, able to both step in to take a charge or creating deflections leading to steals.
Ersan Ilyasova is a complete player and doesn’t really have a weakness in his game. At 22 years of age, he is one of the brightest NBA prospects of this year.
Ersan Ilyasova Predictions
Ersan has already shown flashes of his true potential this season starting for the Milwaukee Bucks. He is a monster of a rebounder and can score in the 20′s with ease and still maintain good shooting percentages. His only apparent weakness is forcing the issue at times and taking tough shots when he shouldn’t be. As he learns about the game and accumulates more experience. He will surely improve as he gets more playing time and his coach Scott Skiles has more confidence in him.
Ersan Ilyasova will hopefully fill that hole being left by Hedo Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur as they approach the downward slope of their career. I am looking forward to following his career as I am certain Ersan Ilyasova will be an All-Star in the near future.