Team 2008-09: EFES PİLSEN (Turkey-TBL)
Career: TED Kolej Ankara (Turkey-TBL, 1998-99), Ülker (Turkey-TBL, 1999-2005), Efes Pilsen (Turkey-TBL 2005-09)

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Having discovered organised basketball only at the age of 18, Gönlüm had to learn many skills much later in life and on a much bigger scale of competition. Slowly but surely the 2.08m power forward has improved and in recent years he has honed his offensive game too. With his athleticism and natural instincts he became a good rebounder and defender right away, but on offense it took him the better part of 10 years to become a real threat. He used to score only on uncontested lay-ups and put-backs, but now he has a decent face up game and with his quick feet he can get past any defender like a guard. But his real value comes on defense and with a team that has pressure defense as the biggest weapon Gönlüm is the player you can't do without. No matter what the score you can be sure that Gönlüm will give you 110%. So he is the role model every other player should look up to if Turkey is to succeed.