In the context of world basketball, Turkish players are a force that cannot be underestimated. In the history of the Turkish national team, they have twice won the second place in important championships (2001 European Championships & 2010 World Championships). Coincidentally, when the two best results were achieved, the tournament was held on the Turkish mainland.
In the NBA League, the highest hall of professional basketball competition, the figure of Turkish players will not be unfamiliar to fans. Which Star Moon Warriors have successfully challenged the NBA across the ocean? In this article, the author will count the Turkish players who have left footprints in the NBA one by one according to the landing timeline for reference.
First, Marced Tekan
At 206cm tall, he has a hand to inherit the accurate shooting of the European inner line, and his rebounding ability and vision ability are not bad, which is the characteristic of Marced Tecan as a big forward. In the 1998 draft, Trakan was selected by the Houston Rockets in the first round of 18, and then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, leaving the ronin experience of switching four teams in his rookie year.
As an NBA player, Marced Tekan only played the 99/00 season, leaving an embarrassing record sheet of 1.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. However, after returning to play in Europe, Marced Tecan made a quick comeback. In the 01-03 season, Marced Tecan was the rebounding king of the Eurobaa basketball league, and has since been a two-double machine for a long time in Europe.
II. Hidu Tekoglu
The 16th pick in the first round of the 2000 draft, the length of his NBA career in 14 seasons, the cumulative career salary of more than 90 million US dollars, the career record of averaging 11.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, and a award for the most improved player. In the minds of many NBA fans, Tekuglu, an organizational striker who began his king's career and reached the pinnacle of his magic career, will be the most impressive Turkish player.
On the stage of the national team, Turkoglu plays a pivotal role. Runner-up at the 2010 World Championships, Tekuglu, who was at the heart of the rhythm control machine, was the first to do so. After retiring as a player, Turkoglu quickly took office and became the president of the Turkish Basketball Association, which shows his extraordinary status in China that he can be compared with Yao Ming.
III. Memit Oku
One championship (the first Turkish player in NBA history to win a championship), one all-star team (a Turkish player who entered the all-star ranks for the first time in NBA history), ten seasons of NBA career length, a career record of 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, and more than $72 million in total career income.
From the perspective of important honors, Memit Oku's NBA career is actually more successful than That of Hido Turkoglu. In the NBA era, when the interior was generally attacked under the basket, Oku's style of play was particularly special. As a 2.11m inside player, Oku shot 37.5% of his career three-point shooting, and his achievements in mid-range receiving jump shots are also very good, and his tonnage on the defensive level is not bad against traditional centers. It can be said that the Jazz interior combination formed by Okur + Boozer was the best partner for Restraining peak Yao Ming. If we are in this basketball era, Okur's talent will definitely get more space to play.
Iv. Ibrahim Kutluy
In NBA history, Ibrahim Kutluy was the first Turkish player to participate in the NBA draft. However, on the night of the star-studded NBA Draft in 1996, Ibrahim Kutluy was not called by Stern, thus becoming a loser.
As one of the most outstanding top scorers in the history of the Turkish team, Kutlui enjoyed a very good basketball career in Europe. In 2002, Kutlui led Greek powerhouse Panacinnekos to the top of Europe as the team's leading scorer, and won numerous honors in the Greek and Turkish leagues. After his european reputation, Ibrahim Kutlui once again ignited the fighting spirit that hit the NBA, wanting to compete for unfinished dreams.
Before the start of the 04/05 season, the Seattle SuperSonic signed the Turkish player on a two-year, $3.36 million contract. Unfortunately, after joining the NBA, Ibrahim Kutluy failed to get the team's approval and was terminated in the middle of the first season. After playing in five games for the Seattle Supersonics, Ibrahim Kutluy's NBA career total was just 1 rebound and 2 turnovers.
V. Eisen Ilyasova
In the 2005 draft, Ilyasova was selected by the Bucks in the second round of the No. 36 pick, and then began an accomplished NBA career. In terms of style, Ilyasova is biased towards the pitcher type, and the athleticism is very bad in the NBA, but the projection after the blocking and dismantling is accurate and the range is excellent.
What many may not remember is that Ilyasova, 34, is still an active NBA player who is currently playing for the Utah Jazz. As of now, Ilyasova's NBA career statistics are averaging 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. In the most prosperous Bucks period, Ilyasova could play a good number of 13 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
6. Omer Asik
Eight NBA seasons averaged 5.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game, which is Asik's NBA career report card. From the second-round show players who no one paid attention to, to the Turkish interior stars who had high hopes, to the slow-selling players who were unpopular in the whole league, Asik's NBA career can be called a regret and a fly in the ointment.
After being picked by the Blazers with the 36th pick in the 2008 draft, Asik was quickly traded to the Chicago Bulls. Since the contract with Fenerbahce was not finished at that time, Asik waited until the 10-11 season to enter the NBA league. Not coincidentally, the Bulls had Boozer and Noah guarding the inside line, and Asik watched the water dispenser for two years.
It wasn't until he was traded to the Rockets in the 12-13 season that Asik seized the opportunity to start and became a double-double machine averaging 10.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. As a well-sized interior player, Asik's biggest selling point is his passion for playing and his good sense of position and card skills when grabbing rebounds. Unfortunately, over time, Asik's lack of range, stiffness in the basket and many bad habits were gradually known to opponents. With shortcomings not being corrected and the league gradually blowing up the small ball wind, Asik's performance was worse than a year, and he was finally cleared out of the league after the 17-18 season.
VII. Semin Eldon
Looking back at Turkey's basketball history, they have always been good at cultivating the inside line, and Semi Elden is a star and moon leader who has long been forgotten by NBA fans. In the 2008 draft, Semin Eldon was selected by the Celtics with the 60th pick. The 60th pick means the tail of the current crane. Before joining the NBA, Semi Eldon spent five seasons in the Turkish League and was a 24-year-old rookie when he ran for the NBA.
In fact, after selecting Eldon, the strong Green Army was not very interested in cultivating this early foreigner player with poor English. Fortunately, coinciding with O'Neal's poor health, Eldon, as the third center, was given the opportunity to perform for more than a decade per game in the Green Army. Subsequently, the Green Army traded it to the Knights. Between 2011 and 2012, Semin Eldon played for the Celtics and cavaliers, with a career statistic of 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds.
VIII. Inés Kanter
Ines Kante was the probing flower of the 2011 draft, and so far the ceiling of Turkish players on the draft picks. In the memory of fans, Kanter has been active in the NBA league for a long time, but Kante was only 19 years old when he landed in the NBA, and he is not yet in his old age when he plays for the Blazers.
As of now, Kanter's NBA career statistics are averaging 11.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game. In the Jazz's early rookie season, Ines Kanter was on the move. In the Thunder years, Kanter is at the top. Personally, I think that rebounding and scoring numbers are not dominant in the career sequence and are in the 15/16 season of the bench, but can be called the most representative season of Kante. Averaging 21 minutes per game, he can contribute 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds to the Thunder. Sibded to 36 minutes, Kante's performance reached 24.3 points and 11.3 rebounds.
Once upon a time, the kaleidoscope of offense and the poke of defence were enough to encompass in Inés Kante's style of play. Due to the sluggish defense, Inés Kante was unable to break through the bottleneck from the start to the star center, and coaches have mostly tended to use Kante as a substitute center in recent years. However, regarding the shortcomings of poor defense and poor positioning, Kante has improved to a certain extent in recent years.
IX. Furkan Altimer
Furkan Altimer was the No. 53 pick in the 2012 Draft and a turkey-skipper in NBA history. Before entering the NBA draft, the then 20-year-old Aldemir averaged 8.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the Turkish league.
After winning the election, Aldemir stayed in Turkey to experience and did not land in the NBA until the 14-15 season to test the waters. Having been selected in the NBA and started his career with the Philadelphia 76ers after two trades, Altimer was undoubtedly lucky. That season, Aldemir played 41 games and got nine starts. Helplessly, his personal strength was not enough, and after leaving a data report card of 2.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, he was cut by the 76ers in the middle of the season, and has not been able to return to the NBA since then.
X. Chedi Osman
In terms of appearance, Chedi Osman, who is known as "Turkish Ren Xianqi", can be regarded as the temporary ceiling of the Turkish NBA players. In terms of style, Osman is a forward player with excellent athleticism, has a hand in the attack, performs well in changing defenses and switching offensive ends, and is still under development in terms of projection. Since joining the NBA as the no. 31 pick in the second round in 2015, Osman has been playing for the Cavaliers, temporarily averaging 9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. It is worth mentioning that due to the Cavaliers' hoarding of forward lines and too many long men, Osman has been squeezed to the bench this season.
11. Furkan Kolkmaz
Back in the 2016 draft, point guard Kolkmaz from Turkey was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 26 pick in the first round. Kolkmaz rose to fame early on, having been named to the Turkish All-Star Team twice before joining, and having won a local dunk contest once. After joining, the young Kolkmaz immediately filled the gap in the NBA league for Turkey's homegrown defenders with a strong performance.
As of now, Kolkmaz's career average is 7.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. Thanks to Curry Jr., Kolkmaz has averaged just 19.3 minutes of playing time this season and can contribute 8.9 points and 2.1 assists to the 76ers, still doing well.