Avram Barokas
{{short description|Turkish basketball player (1926–2003)}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Avram Barokas
| image = Avram Barokas.jpg
| number = 4
| position = Center
| weight_kg =
| league =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|7|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bakırköy, Istanbul, Turkey
| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|7|4|1936|7|25|df=y}}
| death_place = Istanbul, Turkey
| nationality = Turkish
| high_school = Ulus Musevi Lisesi
| college =
| draft_year =
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| draft_pick =
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| draft_league =
| career_start = 1940
| career_end = 1956
| years1 = 1940–1943
| team1 = Beşiktaş
| years2 = –
| team2 = Beyoğlu S.K.
| years3 = –
| team3 = Galatasaray
| years4 = 1954–1956
| team4 = Beyoğlu S.K.
| highlights =
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{{MedalCountry|{{TUR}}}}
}}
Avram Barokas (25 July 1926 – 4 July 2003), known as with his given nickname Börek, was a Turkish international basketball player, coach and horse racing enthusiast.
Career
Barokas started to play basketball as a team player at men's basketball branch of Beşiktaş J.K., where he was promoted to senior squad at the age of 13. He won Istanbul Basketball League both under Galatasaray and Beyoğlu S.K. squads.
Barokas represented Turkey at international competitions, earning total of 24 caps. He competed at EuroBasket 1949 where Turkey finished the tournament at 4th place. He was also in Turkey's squad at EuroBasket 1951 in which Turkey earned 6th place.
Following his basketball career, he was involved in horse racing competitions in Turkey. He owned horses as well as being a member of the board of directors at the Jockey Club of Turkey.{{cite news|title=Avram Barokas (1926-2003)|url=https://www.tjk.org/TR/YarisSever/News/Page/4880|publisher=Jockey Club of Turkey|date=9 June 2010|access-date=24 October 2020|language=Tr|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201024220640/https://www.tjk.org/TR/YarisSever/News/Page/4880|archive-date=24 October 2020|url-status=usurped}}
Personal life
Barokas was born in Bakırköy, Istanbul, to Turkish-Jewish parents Reyna and Samuel Barokas.{{cite news|author=Naim Güleryüz|title=Olimpiyatlardaki Türk Yahudi basketçiler|url=https://www.salom.com.tr/arsiv/haber-100018-olimpiyatlardaki_turk_yahudi_basketciler_____.html|publisher=Şalom|date=3 August 2016|access-date=24 October 2020|language=Tr|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201024213919/https://www.salom.com.tr/arsiv/haber-100018-olimpiyatlardaki_turk_yahudi_basketciler_____.html|archive-date=24 October 2020|url-status=live}} He studied at Ulus Private Jewish High School ({{langx|tr|Ulus Özel Musevi Lisesi}}). He married Suzet Meyohas in 1952 and the couple welcomed their daughter, Cina, in 1952. Barokas passed away on 4 July 2003.{{cite news|title=Kısa... Kısa...|url=http://sampiy10.gazetevatan.com/kisa----kisa----11460-futbol-sampiy10-haber/|work=Vatan |date=5 July 2003|access-date=24 October 2020|language=Tr|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201024214916/http://sampiy10.gazetevatan.com/kisa----kisa----11460-futbol-sampiy10-haber/|archive-date=24 October 2020|url-status=live}} His funeral was held at Neve Shalom Synagogue and he was buried in Ulus Jewish Cemetery.
Legacy
The Jockey Club of Turkey organizes an annual "Avram Barokas Derby".{{cite news|title=Avram Barokas Koşusu’nu Ardaşah kazandı|url=https://www.tjk.org/TR/YarisSever/News/Page/36057|publisher=Jockey Club of Turkey|date=7 August 2020|access-date=24 October 2020|language=Tr|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201024222454/https://www.tjk.org/TR/YarisSever/News/Page/36057|archive-date=24 October 2020|url-status=usurped}}