Seeking to produce a sequel to the country’s Eurobasket title of 2001 in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, Turkish basketball federation officials believe they have gotten one step closer with a verbal commitment from an eager Mehmet Okur.
Media outlets in Turkey and Utah are today reporting that Turkish Basketball Federation official Aaron Erdenay and national team manager Barbaros Akka met with the big Jazz man after Tuesday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors, successfully securing Okur’s participation on Team Turkey for the FIBA Worlds on the country’s homecourts in August and September this year.
“I’m not 18 anymore,” Okur told the Salt Lake City-based Deseret News, “[but] I told them I want to come in 100 percent and give my 100 percent.”
Desert News went on to enumerate prospective members of FIBA World teams from among the Jazz rosters past and present, namely “Andrei Kirilenko (Russia), Deron Williams (Team USA), [and] ex-Jazz guard Carlos Arroyo (Puerto Rico)” in addition to Okur.
“Pretty much I’ll be there,” said Okur.
