Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ was born in the city of Adana southern Turkey. His parents have four more siblings beside him. He was sent to Yenice Çağ Private High School by his family where he excelled in basketball. Due to his father's ill health, they later moved to Istanbul so his father could get the proper treatment. In Istanbul, he joined the Ülkerspor sports club as a basketball player. "[1]