Furkan Haltalı is a young player who has continued his development through the youth academy of Turkish basketball and has earned the opportunity to play at the national team level. Haltalı began his career with the Bandırma Red youth academy and quickly rose to the Turkish Basketball Super League, gaining experience within the domestic player pool by working for various clubs. Included in the National Team's preliminary roster, Haltalı is particularly known for his defensive prowess and rebounding skills, particularly under the basket.

Birth and Nationality

Furkan Haltalı was born on December 2, 2002, in the Selçuklu region of Konya, Türkiye. Officially a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye, he has played for the Turkish National Team throughout his career. Standing at 2.06 m (6'9") tall, he has represented Türkiye at both youth and senior level nationally.

The Beginning of a Club Career

Haltalı, who began his basketball youth academy with Bandırma Kırmızı, Teksüt Bandırma's pilot team, debuted in the Turkish Second League (T-TBL) in the 2017-18 season at the age of 14. In six games that season, he averaged 10.3 minutes per game, averaging 1.3 points and 2.2 rebounds. Following this start, he appeared for Bandırma Kırmızı in 2018-19, averaging 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game in 23 games.

He was promoted to Teksüt Bandırma BK's senior squad in the 2019-20 season, appearing in 38 games across the Turkish Basketball Super League, EuroCup, and Turkish Cup. He averaged 3.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 11.9 minutes per game. This steady increase in playing time in his early years was crucial for him to gain league experience. At just 17 years old, his adaptation to the senior level continued as his youth academy performances translated into the senior team.

His Career in the Countries He Played

Furkan Haltalı's professional club career has been limited entirely to the Turkish leagues. Starting from the youth academy and rising to the Süper Lig, he has played for Bandırma Kırmızı, Teksüt Bandırma, Beşiktaş Icrypex/Basket and Beşiktaş Emlakjet, Anadolu Efes, Pınar Karşıyaka, and, most recently, Bahçeşehir Koleji. Haltalı, who has no official league or tournament experience outside of Türkiye, has played within Turkish club structures at every stage of his career, participating in various levels of league operations.

National Team Career

According to FIBA records, Haltalı's first international experience began at the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship; he also participated in the U17 World Cup held that year. Invited to the Turkish U18 squad in 2019 and the U19 World Cup in 2021, he averaged 4.7 points and 4.7 rebounds (U18) and 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds (U19) in the seasonal tournaments, respectively. His youth stats showed he was viewed as a rebounding and defensive-focused big man.

Haltalı, who made his senior debut for the 2021 EuroBasket Qualifiers, also played for the national team in the 2023 World Cup European Qualifiers and the 2025 EuroBasket Qualifiers. While generally limited playing time during these qualifying campaigns, Haltalı averaged around 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. While he hasn't yet played a significant role on a major tournament roster, he has been included in the team's rotation for the qualifiers.

Positions

With his height advantage and physical build, Haltalı has primarily played the center (number 5) position throughout his career. This role prioritizes rebounding in the low-post, defending below the basket, and finishing in set pieces. Current data suggests he fulfills the responsibilities of a center, including offensive rebounding and blocking defense in the paint.

Club Achievements

He has yet to win a championship in the Turkish Basketball Super League, the Turkish Cup, or international club tournaments at the professional level. He has no record of individual awards or trophy wins at the club level.

National Team Achievements

He hasn't won any medals or championships in the youth or senior national team categories during his career. While he has contributed to the national team rankings in both junior and senior FIBA tournaments, he hasn't finished on the podium.