Denizli Basket

When Sinpaş Denizli Basket ceased operations in 2017, the city was left without a professional basketball side. The gap was filled the same year by an arrangement between Yüksekçıta Schools and the Merkezefendi Municipality, and the new team took the name Yüksekçıta Koleji. A year later it became Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket, and in 2021 it was renamed again as Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi G.S.K. Today it is known as Yukatel Denizli Basket.

The climb was quick. In the 2018–19 season the team won the Turkish Basketball Second League, beating Lokman Hekim Fethiye Belediyespor 77–70 in the final. Two seasons later it took the Turkish Basketball First League title, which brought promotion to the top-flight Basketbol Süper Ligi.

The rivalry that matters is with Manisa Basket. The fixture is known as the "Ege Derbisi", the Aegean Derby, and there is no local equivalent: Denizlispor, the city's football club, plays a different sport. Aliağa Petkimspor and Akhisar Belediyespor are also counted among the opponents that matter.

The roster has drawn players with wider reputations than a club of this age would usually attract, among them Andrew Harrison, Daniel Oturu, Manny Harris and Kalin Lucas. Emircan Koşut is another name associated with the team.

The club reached European qualifying for the 2026–27 season, entering the Basketball Champions League (BCL) qualifiers. It went out in the final eight of the qualifiers, losing 101–98 to Rasta Vechta.