Besiktas Signs Two Big Men to Prepare for EuroLeague
The Turkish club Besiktas has announced the arrivals of David DeJulius and Wenyen Gabriel for the upcoming season. Two complementary profiles: on one hand, a point guard on the rise, and on the other, a forward seasoned at the highest levels of the game.
DeJulius, One of the Top Scorers in the Liga Endesa
David DeJulius (6’0″, 26 years old) arrives from UCAM Murcia, where he had an exceptional campaign. Averaging 17.7 points per game, he finished second in the Liga Endesa scoring charts and was rewarded with a spot on the All-League First Team. A performance that naturally attracted the interest of European clubs, while he spent the offseason in France training with his personal coach Nicolas Perez.
Developed at Michigan before finishing his college career at Cincinnati, the point guard made his professional debut in 2023 with Lavrio in Greece. He then went on to play for Aris and Maccabi Tel Aviv, before making his mark in Spain. He now joins Istanbul with an already well-established European resume.
Resmi Açıklama I David DeJulius
Takımımız, yeni sezon transfer çalışmaları kapsamında ABD’li oyun kurucu David DeJulius ile sözleşme imzaladı.
Michigan’da başlayan NCAA kariyerini Cincinnati formasıyla tamamlayan DeJulius, profesyonel kariyerine 2023 yılında Yunanistan’da… pic.twitter.com/J4NSkconD9
— Beşiktaş Basketbol (@BJK_Basketbol) August 1, 2026
Wenyen Gabriel, from the NBA to EuroLeague
Alongside him, Besiktas welcomes Wenyen Gabriel (6’9″), a forward with an atypical profile and an impressive résumé. Born with dual South Sudanese and American nationality, Gabriel began his professional career in 2018 after playing for the Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA. He then made his way through several NBA franchises: the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Memphis Grizzlies.
In 2024, he joined the EuroLeague with Maccabi Tel Aviv, before stints with Panathinaikos and Bayern Munich. A rare transatlantic career path that significantly strengthens Besiktas‘s frontcourt.
Resmi Açıklama I Wenyen Gabriel
Takımımız, yeni sezon transfer çalışmaları kapsamında Güney Sudan asıllı ABD’li forvet Wenyen Gabriel ile sözleşme imzaladı.
NCAA’de Kentucky Wildcats formasıyla tamamladığı kolej kariyerinin ardından 2018 yılında profesyonel kariyerine… pic.twitter.com/T1jlvHvxF8
— Beşiktaş Basketbol (@BJK_Basketbol) August 1, 2026
A Contract Dispute Over DeJulius
The announcement of DeJulius’s signing did not take long to draw a response. UCAM Murcia released an official statement contesting the transfer, claiming the player has not been released from his contract. The Spanish club stated that it has not granted DeJulius a release letter, asserting that such a move cannot take place without a prior agreement on the terms of his departure.
Murcia also indicated that it will defend its rights before FIBA and has not ruled out legal action against any party it deems responsible for damages in this matter. A legal standoff that could complicate Besiktas‘s plans even before the season begins.
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