Former Bosnian-Turkish basketball player Asim Pars found dead in Bosnia home

Former Turkish basketball player Asim Pars was found dead in his home in Kalesija, northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Medical teams confirmed his death on the scene, local police reported.

Asim Pars: Prominent figure in Turkish, Bosnian basketball

Born in Bosnia in 1976, Pars started his basketball career in 1992 with the Bosnian club Sloboda.

He moved to Türkiye during the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995 and played for prominent Turkish teams like Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Efes Pilsen and Turk Telekom.

Pars also represented Türkiye’s national team and was part of the squad that secured a silver medal in the 2001 European Basketball Championship.

Tributes pour from Bosnian-Turkish basketball playerAsim Pars’ loved ones

The news of his passing shocked the sports community. Hidayet Turkoglu, President of the Turkish Basketball Federation, expressed his sorrow: “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Asim Pars, one of the important names in Turkish basketball. I extend my condolences to his family and our community.”

Several sports clubs, including Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas, also shared messages of condolence, remembering his contributions to the sport and his impact on the basketball world.

Pars’ legacy spans 2 countries

Asim Pars, who changed his name from Asim Pascanovic after becoming a Turkish citizen, played for a wide range of teams across Türkiye and Europe during his career.

His impact on basketball, especially during a transformative period for the sport in Türkiye, will be remembered by fans, teammates and coaches.

His cause of death has not been disclosed yet.