Max Besselink
Belfius Mons-Hainaut
PositionSmall forward
LeagueBNXT League
Personal information
Born (2002-04-04) April 4, 2002
Helsinki, Finland
Listed height2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight98 kg (216 lb)
Career information
CollegeSanta Clara University (2021)
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2020Helsingin NMKY
2020–2021Helsinki Seagulls
2020–2021Helsingin NMKY
2021–2022BC Nokia
2022–2023BG Göttingen
2023–presentBelfius Mons-Hainaut

Max Besselink (born 4 April 2002) is a Finnish professional basketball player for Belgian team Belfius Mons-Hainaut.[1][2][3]

Early life

Besselink was born in Helsinki, Finland, to Canadian father and Finnish-Swedish mother. He was raised in Vartiokylä, Helsinki.[4] His father, Gerry Besselink, played basketball in Finland during 1989–1997, and represented Canada national team in 1986 FIBA World Championship tournament. His mother, Nina Besselink (née Johansson), played in Finland national team and has won two Finnish championship titles.[5][6][7]

Career

Besselink started to play basketball in Helsingin NMKY in second-tier Koripallon I-divisioona in 2018.[8] He attended the Basketball Without Borders camp in June 2019.[9] Besselink played with Helsinki Seagulls in the 2020–21 season in top-tier Korisliiga. In 2021, he was supposed to join Santa Clara University, but after the summer school he decided to turn professional.

On 28 September 2021, he joined fellow Korisliiga team BC Nokia for the season.[10]

It was reported in May 2022 that Besselink had signed with Basketball Bundesliga team s.Oliver Würzburg, but the deal was cancelled later.[11] In September 2022, he signed a contract with Tapiolan Honka, but later used a foreign transfer clause in his contract, and joined Bundesliga team BG Göttingen.[12] After a season with Göttingen, Besselink moved to Belgium and signed a three-year deal with Belfius Mons-Hainaut in BNXT League in July 2023.[13][14][15] On 8 January 2024, he returned from an injury he suffered in a national team game, and made his debut in BNXT League.[16]

National team

A former youth international, Besselink has represented Finland senior national team on two occasions. Most recently he played in a 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifying win against Israel, recording 5 points, 6 rebounds and an assist in 9 minutes.[17][18]

Personal life

Besselink speaks Swedish as his mother tongue, Finnish, and English with his father.[19]

References

  1. ↑ M.Besselink, eurobasket.com
  2. ↑ M.Besselink, realgm.com
  3. ↑ M.Besselink, proballers
  4. ↑ Suomalaisen koripallon superlupaus pelaa ilmaiseksi ja saa isältään aamiaisen vuoteeseen, jos rikkoo hänen ennätyksensä: ”Ja ellei hän tee, hän saa tarjota minulle oluen”, Aamulehti, 13 October 2020
  5. ↑ Pelaajien poika, Helsingin Sanomat, 13 October 2020
  6. ↑ Nina Besselink, basket.fi
  7. ↑ Entinen Kanadan MM-pelaaja riemuitsee Suomen kisapaikasta - "Tästä saatetaan käydä kuumia väittelyitä", Yle, 2 February 2014
  8. ↑ Namikakasvatti Max Besselink Saksan pääsarjaan, hnmky.fi, 31 May 2022
  9. ↑ Max Besselink valittiin Basketball Without Borders -leirille, basket.fi, 9 June 2019
  10. ↑ Max Besselink liittyy uutena pelaajana Näätiin, bcnokia.fi, 28 September 2021
  11. ↑ Koripalloilija Max Besselink suuren askeleen äärellä – Sai siirron huippusarjaan, penkkiurheilu.com, 31 May 2022
  12. ↑ MAX BESSELINK SIIRTYY HONGASTA SAKSAN BUNDESLIIGAAN, tapiolanhonka.fi
  13. ↑ Max Besselink kolmivuotisella sopimuksella Belgiaan, basket.fi, 17 July 2023
  14. ↑ Helmikuussa Susijengin MM-karsintaottelussa pelannut Max Besselink vaihtaa taas maata ja seuraa, Salon Seudun Sanomat, 17 July 2023
  15. ↑ Max Besselink vaihtaa Saksan koripallokentät Belgiaan, Yle, 17 July 2023
  16. ↑ Alexander Madsenille debyytti Espanjassa – Max Besselink palasi kentille, basket.fi, 8 January 2024
  17. ↑ m.besselink, basket.fi
  18. ↑ Max Besselink yllätysnimenä ehdolle viimeisiin MM-karsintapeleihin, Helsingin Sanomat, 15 February 2023
  19. ↑ "Pappa tyckte jag inte var så bra på fotboll" – Max Besselink har vuxit upp i en basketfamilj och nu är det hans tur att debutera i ligan, Svenska Yle, 11 October 2020
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