Hedo Türkoğlu

Türkoğlu joined Efes Pilsen (now known as Anadolu Efes) in 1996 and played four seasons with the team. He averaged 8.4 points on 58 percent shooting in 50 games in the EuroLeague. Türkoğlu helped the team reach the 2000 EuroLeague Final Four, averaging 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, in 22 games.[2][3]

Türkoğlu was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 16th pick of the 2000 NBA draft. He was the first Turkish-born player in NBA history.[4] He played alongside other European stars such as Vlade Divac and Peja Stojaković.

Turkoglu received votes for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award following the 2001–02 season,[5] when he averaged 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.[6]

During the 2003 offseason, Türkoğlu was traded to the San Antonio Spurs along with Ron Mercer in a three-team trade. The trade also sent Brad Miller to the Kings and Scot Pollard and Danny Ferry to the Pacers. Türkoğlu played one season with the Spurs and averaged 9.2 points on a career-high 42 percent three-point shooting.[7]

Türkoğlu in an NBA game against the Washington Wizards in November 2008

Türkoğlu joined the Orlando Magic in 2004. He scored a career-high 39 points twice: in an April 2007 game against the Toronto Raptors, and in a March 2008 game against the Washington Wizards.[8]

On April 28, 2008, Türkoğlu was named the NBA's Most Improved Player for the 2007–08 NBA season.[9][10] The Magic won 52 games that season, and Türkoğlu averaged career-highs in points per game (19.5), rebounds per game (5.7), and assists per game (5.0) and started all 82 regular-season games.

In the 2008–09 NBA season, Türkoğlu helped the Magic reach the NBA Finals[11] for the first time since 1995. He led the Magic with 18.0 points per game in the Finals.[12] However, they lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers. Türkoğlu decided to opt out of his contract after the season.

Türkoğlu (#26) with the Raptors in 2009

On July 9, 2009, Türkoğlu was signed and traded to the Toronto Raptors as a part of a four-team deal among the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, which also included Shawn Marion. As part of the deal, the Magic received cash considerations from Dallas and Toronto as compensation. [13]

On March 28, 2010, Türkoğlu was a healthy scratch for the Raptors, his first benching since March 10, 2006, when he was still an Orlando Magic player. This was a disciplinary measure, after he was spotted by fans out late in a nightclub in the Yorkville district of Toronto, immediately after missing a game due to a stomach virus. The fans wrote staff within the Raptors organization, who then notified management and coaching staff, leading to the punishment.[14][15]

On May 29, 2010, Türkoğlu said in a television interview in Turkey that he felt he was wronged by the Raptors' management and wanted to leave Toronto.[16]

On July 14, 2010, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones.[17]

On December 18, 2010, Türkoğlu was traded back to the Orlando Magic along with Jason Richardson and Earl Clark for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickaël Piétrus, a 2011 first-round draft pick, and $3 million cash.[18] On February 13, 2013, Türkoğlu was suspended for 20 games after testing positive for methenolone.[19] Türkoğlu said that he received medicine containing methenolone from a trainer in Turkey, though he did not know it was a banned substance.[20]

On January 3, 2014, Türkoğlu was waived by the Magic. He did not appear for them in the 2013–14 season.[21]

On January 16, 2014, Türkoğlu signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[22] On January 18, he made his Clippers debut. In 13 minutes he recorded 4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist in a 92–106 loss to the Indiana Pacers.[23]

On September 12, 2014, he re-signed with the Clippers.[24]