Samir Zekiqi

{{Short description|Kosovan basketball player}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Samir Zekiqi

| image =

| number = 21

| position = Forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 215.6

| league = Kosovo Superleague

| team = Bashkimi

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|1|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Mitrovicë, Kosovo, Yugoslavia

| nationality = Kosovan

| high_school =

| college = Karşıyaka Yamanlar College (2011)

| draft_year = 2018

| career_start = 2012

| years1 = 2012

| team1 = Trepça

| years2 = 20122014

| team2 = RTV21

| years3 = 2014–2015

| team3 = Trepça

| years4 = 2015–2016

| team4 = Peja

| years5 = 2016–2017

| team5 = Trepça

| years6 = 2017

| team6 = Bashkimi

| years7 = 20172019

| team7 = Trepça

| years8 = 2019–2021

| team8 = Ylli

| years9 = 20212022

| team9 = Trepça

| years10 = 2022–2023

| team10 = Peja

| years11 = 2023–present

| team11 = Bashkimi

| highlights = * 2x Kosovo Superleague: (2021, 2023)

}}

Samir Zekiqi (born 23 January 1995) is a Kosovan professional basketball player for Bashkimi of the Kosovo Superleague. He is part of the Kosovo national team.

Early life and college career

Born in Mitrovicë, Zekiqi started his youth career for Trepça. In the beginning of 2011, he became part of Maliye Milli.{{cite news|url= http://www.eurohopes.com/news/5445/u-16_turkish_final_round_the_moment_of_the_truth |title=U-16 Turkish Final Round: The moment of the truth|work=eurohopes.com |date=26 May 2011|access-date=6 June 2024}} Later he became part of the Karşıyaka Yamanlar College where his teammates were Egemen Güven, Hüseyin Nuriler and many others.{{cite news|url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/ege/yamanlar-in-ikiz-kuleleri-1449720|title= Yamanlar’ın ikiz kuleleri|work=Milliyet|date=12 September 2011|language=tr|access-date=6 June 2024|quote= Samir Zekiqi, Egemen Güven, Hüseyin Nuriler, Furkan İlker Çelebi , Hüseyin Uysal’ın , Türkiye standartlarının üzerinde bir okul takımını oluşturuyor.}}

Professional career

=Trepça (2016–2017)=

On October 4, 2016, Zekiqi signed for Trepça of the Kosovo Superleague and BIBL.{{cite news|url=https://topsporti.com/artikulli/trepca-shpreson-te-vellezerit-zekiqi/fbk-superliga|title= Trepça shpreson te vëllezërit Zekiqi|work=TopSporti|date=4 October 2016}} Zekiqi averaged 16.4 points per game in the 2016–17 Kosovo Superleague season and 8.4 points per game in the 2016–17 Balkan League season.

=Ylli (2019–2021)=

On August 19, 2019, Zekiqi signed for Ylli of the Kosovo Superleague.{{cite news|url=https://www.koha.net/en/sport/179789/golden-eagle-ylli-perforcohet-me-zekiqin|title= Golden Eagle Ylli is reinforced with Zekiqi|work=Koha|date=19 August 2019}}

=Peja (2022–2023)=

On 6 December, 2022, Zekiqi signed for Peja of the Kosovo Superleague, Liga Unike and BIBL.{{cite news|url=https://www.gazetaexpress.com/samir-zekiqi-rikthehet-te-peja/|title=Samir Zekiqi rikthehet te Peja|work=Gazeta Express|date=6 December 2022|language=sq|access-date=6 June 2024}}

International career

Zekiqi was one of the first players of Kosovo and his official debut with Kosovo came on 14 September 2016 in the EuroBasket 2017 qualification match against Ukraine.{{cite web|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2017/qualifiers/player/Samir-Zekiqi|title=Eurobasket 2017 Qualifiers - Player Samir Zekiqi|work=Fiba.basketball|access-date=6 June 2024}}

Personal life

Samir Zekiqi's brothers Burim and Ramadan are also professional basketball players.{{cite news|url=https://kbtrepca.com/samir-zekiqi-dhe-burim-zekiqi-se-bashku-ndihmuan-trepcen-me-15-pik-5-kercime-3-asistime/|title=SAMIR ZEKIQI DHE BURIM ZEKIQI SË BASHKU NDIHMUAN TREPÇEN ME 15 PIK 5 KERCIME 3 ASISTIME|work=KB Trepça|date=19 February 2022|language=sq|access-date=6 June 2024}}

Honours

=Trepça=

=Ylli=

=Peja=

=Individual awards=

  • Rookie of the year in the Kosovo Superleague: (2016){{cite web|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Kosovo/basketball-Superliga_2015-2016.aspx|title=Superliga 2015–2016|work=eurobasket.com|access-date=6 June 2024}}

References

{{reflist}}