Ismaël Bako (born 10 October 1995) is a Belgian professional basketball player for UNICS Kazan of the Russian VTB United League. Standing at , he plays at the center position. He started his career in 2012 with Leuven Bears and transferred to Antwerp Giants in April 2017.
Professional career
Leuven
Bako started his career with Leuven Bears in the Pro Basketball League, making his debut in 2012. He was named the BLB Young Player of the Year of the 2016–17 season, after averaging 8.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Antwerp
In April 2017, he signed with Antwerp Giants. In the 2018–19 season, Bako won the Belgian Basketball Cup with the Giants. He was named the Belgian Cup Most Valuable Player. In the same season, the team reached the Final Four of the Basketball Champions League. Antwerp finished in third place after defeating Brose Bamberg in the third place game. Bako was named to the Basketball Champions League Star Lineup.
ASVEL
On 3 July 2019, Bako signed a two-year contract with LDLC ASVEL of the French LNB Pro A and the EuroLeague. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. On June 12, 2020, he re-signed with the team for an additional season. During the 2020-21 season Bako averaged 5.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He parted ways with the team on 11 July 2021.
Baxi Manresa
On July 24, 2021, Bako signed a two-year deal with Baxi Manresa of the Spanish Liga ACB. On September 5, 2021, won the Catalan League and won the MVP of the competition.
Virtus Bologna
On July 13, 2022, Bako signed with Virtus Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague. On 29 September 2022, after having ousted Olimpia Milano in the semifinals, Virtus won its third Supercup, defeating 72–69 Banco di Sardegna Sassari and achieving a back-to-back, following the 2021 trophy. However, despite good premises Virtus ended the EuroLeague season at the 14th place, thus it did not qualify for the playoffs. Moreover, the team was defeated in the Italian Basketball Cup final by Brescia. In June, after having ousted 3–0 both Brindisi and Tortona, Virtus was defeated 4–3 by Olimpia Milan in the national finals, following a series which was widely regarded among the best in the latest years of Italian basketball. On August 25, 2023, Bako parted ways with the Italian powerhouse.
National team career
Bako has been a member of the Belgian national basketball team since 2016. At 21, Bako was the youngest member of the squad that played at EuroBasket 2017.
Personal life
Bako was born in Belgium to a Beninese father and Belgian mother.
Awards and accomplishments
Club
Manresa
Lliga Catalana de Bàsquet: (2021) ASVEL LNB Pro A: (2021) French Cup: (2021) Antwerp Giants Belgian Cup: (2019)
Individual
Lliga Catalana de Bàsquet Final MVP: (2021) All-Champions League First Team: (2019) Belgian Cup MVP: (2019) Belgian League Young Player of the Year (2017)
References
1995 births
Antwerp Giants players
ASVEL Basket players
Bàsquet Manresa players
BC UNICS players
Belgian expatriate basketball people in France
Belgian expatriate basketball people in Italy
Belgian expatriate basketball people in Russia
Belgian expatriate basketball people in Spain
Belgian men's basketball players
Belgium national basketball players
Belgian people of Beninese descent
Centers (basketball) Leuven Bears players Liga ACB players Living people Sportspeople from Leuven Virtus Bologna players