Semih Erden

Semih Erden — Biography

Semih Erden, born on 28 July 1986 in Istanbul's Bayrampaşa district, is a Turkish former professional basketball player who played at center, standing 2.13 m. He came through the Darüşşafaka youth system and turned professional with the club in 2003. In 2004 he moved to Serbian side Partizan, winning the Yugoslav league title, then returned to Turkey in 2005 to join Fenerbahçe, where he collected three domestic league championships. The Boston Celtics picked him with the last selection of the 2008 NBA draft, but an existing contract kept him in Istanbul until he finally signed with Boston in July 2010. With the team's veteran big men injured, he earned his first NBA starts that season before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2011; his NBA stint ended in 2012.

Back in Europe he played for Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahçe again, Darüşşafaka, Beşiktaş, İstanbul BŞB, Pınar Karşıyaka, Türk Telekom, and Bursaspor. With Fenerbahçe he reached the club's first EuroLeague Final Four in 2015. For the Turkish national team he won silver at the 2010 FIBA World Championship on home soil. Erden announced his retirement in February 2025.