Cenk Akyol

Background

Cenk Akyol's professional playing career began after the Atlanta Hawks picked him 59th overall in the 2005 NBA draft. On 3 July 2015, he signed a multi-year contract with Beşiktaş Integral Forex, but left after one season. He then joined Acıbadem Üniversitesi of the Turkish Basketball First League on 20 October 2016. Later, on 2 July 2018, he signed with Sigortam.net İTÜ Basket, also in the Turkish Basketball First League.

His draft rights saw a series of trades: on 20 February 2014, the Hawks traded them to the Los Angeles Clippers for Antawn Jamison; on 7 January 2015, the Clippers sent them to the Philadelphia 76ers along with Jared Cunningham and cash for the rights to Sergei Lishouk; on 19 February 2015, they were traded to the Denver Nuggets for JaVale McGee and the rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum; on 18 January 2017, the rights returned to the Hawks in exchange for Mo Williams' player rights and cash; and finally, on 23 February 2017, they were traded alongside Mike Scott and cash for a top-55 protected second-round pick from the Phoenix Suns.

Akyol is also a regular player for the Turkish national team. Off the court, he married former national volleyball player Naz Aydemir on 21 August 2013. As of August 2021, he began working as an assistant coach at Galatasaray Nef.