Ersan İlyasova was born on May 15, 1987, in Eskişehir, Türkiye. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (36th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft and began his NBA career in the 2006–07 season. Before playing for teams such as the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic, he spent many years with the Bucks, becoming one of the team’s most reliable power forwards.

^{Ersan Ilyasova} (AA)

Throughout his NBA career, Ilyasova appeared in over 800 games, averaging 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. Notably, in the 2011–12 season, he achieved an impressive three-point shooting percentage of 45.5%, ranking among the league leaders.

In the summer of 2015, Ilyasova was traded to the Detroit Pistons. He later played for the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, and Atlanta Hawks. In March 2021, he signed with the Utah Jazz, continuing his NBA career.

Ersan Ilyasova represented the Turkish national basketball team for many years, contributing to significant achievements. He began his international career with a silver medal at the 2003 European U-16 Championship. Over the years, he played in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, the 2010 FIBA World Cup, and multiple EuroBasket tournaments. He played a crucial role in Türkiye's silver medal at the 2010 World Cup, standing out for both scoring and rebounding contributions. His 26-point performance against Greece in EuroBasket 2009 is a notable highlight. With his positional versatility, discipline on the court, and experience, he has served as a leader across different generations of Turkish basketball.