Before becoming a household name in the NBA, Hedo Türkoğlu cut his teeth with Efes Pilsen (now Anadolu Efes) in the late 1990s. Known for his size at 6’10” and his versatility, he was ahead of his time, a forward who could handle the ball, shoot, and create mismatches.
In the NBA, Türkoğlu played 15 seasons, most notably with the Orlando Magic, where he peaked as the second option behind Dwight Howard. In 2009, he helped lead Orlando all the way to the NBA Finals, averaging nearly 17 points and 5 assists during that playoff run.
While he never made an All-Star team, Türkoğlu was beloved for his clutch shot-making, especially during that memorable 2009 run through Boston and Cleveland.
His legacy is secure as one of Turkey’s first great NBA exports and as an early example of the “point forward” role we now see across modern basketball.
In the NBA, Türkoğlu played 15 seasons, most notably with the Orlando Magic, where he peaked as the second option behind Dwight Howard. In 2009, he helped lead Orlando all the way to the NBA Finals, averaging nearly 17 points and 5 assists during that playoff run.
While he never made an All-Star team, Türkoğlu was beloved for his clutch shot-making, especially during that memorable 2009 run through Boston and Cleveland.
His legacy is secure as one of Turkey’s first great NBA exports and as an early example of the “point forward” role we now see across modern basketball.
