Por Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
After 40 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes, Furkan Korkmaz is back after seven years in the NBA.
Korkmaz, 27, has joined AS Monaco on a one-year contract with an option for an additional season, the team announced Tuesday.
In seven NBA seasons, the Turkish guard made 361 appearances for the Philadelphia 76ers, including 33 in the playoffs. His 35.3% three-point shooting was a career highlight. With playing time reduced to 8.6 minutes per game, he averaged 2.5 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.1 blocks per game in 35 appearances in the 2023-24 regular season. In February, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers and immediately waived, ending his career in the North American-based league.
An unrestricted free agent in the NBA for the past few months, the Istanbul native considered his options in a demanding market and joined La Roca Team. Making a comeback in Europe’s premier continental club competition, he will team up with Juhann Begarin, Jaron Blossomgame, Vitto Brown, Nick Calathes, Petr Cornelie, Alpha Diallo, Mike James, Mouhammadou Jaiteh, Donatas Motiejunas, Elie Okobo, Giorgos Papagiannis, Matthew Strazel and Terry Tarpey, under the guidance of head coach Sasa Obradovic.
After representing Turkey in multiple tournaments at the junior level, Kurkmaz was promoted to the senior level in 2015, two years before expanding his career to the NBA and the Sixers.
🏹 Fᴜʀᴋᴀɴ Kᴏʀᴋᴍᴀᴢ sᴜʀ ʟᴇ Rᴏᴄʜᴇʀ ! 🇲🇨
🆕️ After seven seasons under the Philadelphia Sixers jersey in the NBA, the Turkish sniper (27 years old, 2m01) comes to bring his shot and his experience at the highest level 🔫💯
🗣 Press release and interview to be found on our site 📝… pic.twitter.com/KImHeMOPN8
— AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) August 7, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA Basketball
