Hedo Turkoglu #15 of the Orlando Magic in action against the New York Knicks on January 16, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Magic defeated the Knicks 102-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

HIGH-VALUE ASSET TO EFES PILSEN, RECORD-BREAKING TURK AT NBA

Türkoğlu signed with Efes Pilsen in 1995. With his versatile style and physical strength, Hedo was also selected for the Turkish national basketball team. Regarded as one of the best youth basketball players at the time he started playing professionally, Türkoğlu was considered a future star by the authorities, and a true asset to both the Turkish national team and Efes Pilsen. Even though he was not on the lineup of Efes Pilsen’s legendary 1996 squad, which won the International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) Korać Cup, he proved a true asset to Efes Pilsen, even when he was playing on the club’s youth team, which was comprised of promising young basketballers. Becoming first-string in the 1997-1998 season, he played scoring an average of 5.3 points and taking 3.8 rebounds. Türkoğlu was also on the lineup of Efes Pilsen, which won the Turkish Cup that year. With his improving performance, he signed a new contract with the Istanbul team. The contract was a prominent nine-year deal worth $8 million.

In the 1998-1999 season, he upped his performance even further. Growing to an average of 8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per match, he was selected for the Turkish national team. In the 2000 Euroleague tournament, which saw Turkey advance all the way to the final four, he participated in 22 matches with a staggering average of 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per match. That year, he was also chosen as one of the top five players in the European tournament. In the total 50 Euroleague matches he participated in while playing for Efes Pilsen between the years of 1995 and 2000, Türkoğlu averaged 8.4 points on 58% shooting.

After five years playing at the Istanbul heavyweights, he made a bold decision to advance his career even further: He decided to play in the NBA, the most prestigious basketball league in the world. That decision also marked a record. Türkoğlu became the 16th pick of NBA giants Sacramento Kings. Breaking the record as the highest-ranking Turkish player in NBA drafts ever, Türkoğlu also became the first Turkish-born player in the American basketball league.

After he was transferred to Sacramento Kings, his former club Efes Pilsen earned $1.5 million, a substantial amount for the time. At a ceremony in Istanbul, he signed for the team for a four-year term for a transfer fee of $5.8 million. Hedo was also among the best foreign players in the 2000 picks of the NBA, alongside other European stars.

A STAR IS BORN

At the Sacramento Kings, he first took to the hardwood in the 2000-2001 season’s match against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Starting off with a relatively moderate performance, he gradually sharpened his skills and later ranked sixth in the Rookie of the Year voting. Later on, he was selected to be in the starting five of the NBA’s All-Rookie team. While the Sacramento Kings were knocked out by the Los Angeles Lakers in the play-offs, Türkoğlu increased his stats during the season to an average of 22 points, four rebounds and three assists per game. Rapidly recovering after an injury while playing for the Turkish national team, he managed to improve his performance yet again, scoring 25 points in a match against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His performance also caught the attention of NBA executives, who later chose him for the NBA All-Star Rookie team again.

Later on, he helped his team reach the conference final with a successful double-double, only to be defeated by Los Angeles Lakers with a tight score of 4-3. After suffering from injuries, his performance inevitably decreased, landing on the transfer list of the Sacramento Kings. Nevertheless, he went to an arguably better team, to the San Antonio Spurs, the then-defending champions. In a twist of fate, he again shined against the Minnesota Timberwolves while playing for the Spurs. Clinching another double-double against the Midwest contenders, he managed to score 13 points and make 14 rebounds. Drawing more attention with his rising performance, he signed with the Orlando Magic, which marked his second transfer within the NBA. Signing a six-year contract for a whopping $39 million, he continued to sharpen his skills further.

In a yet another surprising coincidence, a match against Minnesota Timberwolves marked another moment he shined, this time wearing the jersey of Orlando Magic. Scoring 32 points against the team, he both broke his career record and became the Magic’s top-scorer.

In the 2005-2006 season, he continued to build his stats and shined further with his performance, becoming a favorite of Magic fans. In the same year, he married his childhood sweetheart, Banu Ergür, in a wedding ceremony in Istanbul. After the wedding, he performed his military service in Turkey’s southwestern Burdur province. Later on, he continued his performance, and despite several injuries, he continued to gain pace. In the 2007-2008 season, he clinched several matches with last-second points, earning the nickname “Mr. Last Period” from Magic fans. With his gradually increasing performance, he managed to be crowned the post valuable player (MVP) of the Eastern Conference in April 2008. Shining further that season, he was also honored as the “Most Improved Player” of the NBA, becoming the first and only Turkish player to achieve the title.

In 2008-2009 season, Hedo again broke his career record with 14 assists. The next year, he made another transfer, this time to a Canadian team playing in the NBA. Signing for a substantial $56 million to play in the squad of the Toronto Raptors for a course of five years, Türkoğlu said that his decision was influenced by the fact that Toronto is a cosmopolitan city, with a large Turkish population. Failing to find success under a Toronto Raptors jersey, he later transferred to the Phoenix Suns, only to return to his old team the Orlando Magic after five months.

As his performance declined with age, and due to injuries, he failed to achieve much success when he was transferred to the Los Angeles Clippers, the last team he played for in the NBA. His national team career was also a record-breaking success. Being the most-capped player ever to wear the Turkish national jersey, he was among the team that advanced to the quarterfinals in the European Basketball Championship in 1999. Two years later, he was also in the national squad, which became the runner-up in the European tournament.

In 2010’s FIBA World Basketball Championship, the Turkish national team broke another record with Türkoğlu in the squad, only to lose against the United States in the final match, becoming the second-best team of the globe that year. With his many ups and downs, Türkoğlu managed to become a trademark of Turkish basketball, despite several serious injuries.

In late 2015, he announced that he was retiring. “I have decided to end my career as an NBA player for 15 years and the most-capped player for Turkey’s national team,” he said, to go on to head the Turkish Basketball Federation.

LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT

After retiring from his renowned career, he became a the top executive of Turkish basketball. A year after retiring, Türkoğlu replaced Harun Erdenay as the President of Turkish Basketball Federation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later appointed Hedo as one of his senior advisors responsible for youth and sports. Türkoğlu has also participated in charity work and efforts to increase the quality of Turkish basketball with donations to improve sports facilities. Nowadays, the President of the TBF, Türkoğlu is married with two children named Ela and Lina.