By Yiğitalp Kalkancı / info@eurohoops.net
Furkan Korkmaz finished his rookie season in one of the most exciting NBA teams. He is young, like the Sixers’ core, and he hopes that he can contribute more in the future, especially if more top players are added to the mix.
When asked by Eurohoops if he thinks that LeBron James or Paul George will join the Sixers, his answer was simple: “Of course they could come, why not? It’s important who is going to be combined with our young players. Because we created a great team chemistry this year. Maybe we made the biggest breakthrough as an NBA team in the last 5-6 years. We won 17-18 games in a row which was really big. It is not easy to keep this chemistry or protect this locker room atmosphere while adding new players. Our coaches and front office are going to do whatever necessary to make it. I hope that everything that happens, will be good for our team“.
The young Turkish forward had a turbulent season plagued by injuries and he hopes that things will change: “Every player wants to be on the floor. But I could not walk for around two months because of my injury. Rehabilitation process took another 4,5 months. It took time to be my old self and play again but I feel good now. I think I am going to be better on the game day (ed.note: in FIBA World Cup qualifiers). Of course, being injured is awful. Such a long-term injury was a first for me. I hope it will be the last”.
Speaking about his role with the team, Furkan explained that he expects to have a bigger role: “We talked with Coach Brett Brown at the end of the season. For now, I am focused not on the next NBA season but on the upcoming games with the Turkish national team and summer league. When I was there for my rookie year, I was actually aiming for the second season also. We were planning to focus on my improvement the first time around. Even then, I was affected by injuries, I think it was a good season for me. I believe I will be noticed in the NBA next season“.
The young Turk forward spoke also about the Bryan Colangelo controversy and him parting ways with the Sixers: “I had a good relationship with Bryan Colangelo. He communicated with me constantly after being drafted. I read everything from Twitter and I was really surprised. We waited for the process to end and the decision to be made. Then Philadelphia parted ways with him. I hope he continues his career with success“.
However, the issue with Colangelo is a pretty small note on a bigger picture that has the Sixers are one of the emerging contenders in the East. Furkan Korkmaz believes that his teammates are already legitimate superstars: “I think both Simmons and Embiid are superstars right now. Simmons could not play his first year because of his injury but he performed like he had played in this league for 10 years. He is on the elite level with his maturity and skill. NBA and NCAA are two very different things. There is nothing much to say about Embiid. He showed what he is capable of. They just need more playing time together to gain experience“.
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