Mehmet Okur

Mehmet Okur is a Turkish professional basketball player, currently playing for the Utah Jazz. He is the first player from Turkey ever to participate in the NBA All-Star game, as well as the first player ever to win an NBA Championship. Okur is widely regarded for his versatility with his 6'11 height and his ability to shoot the three point shot, for which he has held the Jazz franchise record for most three pointers in a single season.NBA.com: Mehmet Okur

Mehmet Okur was born in Yalova, Turkey on May 26, 1979. He played with the 22 and under Turkish National Team and then Efes Pilsen in the Turkish Basketball League where he helped his team bagged a championship. In 2001, he declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft.NBA.com: Mehmet Okur

Okur was selected as a 38th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. In 2004, Okur was a key role player off the bench for the Pistons as they won the NBA Championship. Okur then signed with the Utah Jazz as a free agent. He established himself as a valuable and a force to reckon with member of the Jazz team as he earned a spot in the starting five. He was named to the 2007 All-Star team and earned the distinction as being the first Turkish player ever to be elected to the NBA All-Star Game.NBA.com: Mehmet Okur

Mehmet Okur truly made his presence felt in the Utah Jazz lineup as he helped his team secure the fifth seed in the 2010 Western Conference Playoffs. He averaged 13.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assist, 0.5 steal and 1.1 block in 73 games for the Jazz. In the playoffs however, Okur was saddled by an injury that made him miss the entire post season. He suffered a ruptured left Achilles’ tendon during the Jazz lost to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their first round 2010 Playoffs series. The injury will require a surgery and three months of rehabilitation. However, the date of surgery has yet to be confirmed.

• Mahalo's Guide to the Utah Jazz
• ESPN.com: Career Stats
  • Height: 6-11
  • Weight: 263 lbs
  • Rookie Year: 1997-Professional; 2002-NBA