NEW YORK — Furkan Korkmaz is preparing for his sixth season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Following a down 2021-22 season, it is reasonable to expect this season will be critical since he is trying to keep a rotation spot.
The Sixers made quite a few offseason moves, bringing in two players, De’Anthony Melton and Danuel House Jr., who play Korkmaz’s position. The veteran from Turkey shot only 28.9% from deep in 2021-22, so the Sixers naturally looked for upgrades at his spot.
Combine those additions with up-and-coming youngsters Isaiah Joe, and Korkmaz is on thin ice in terms of keeping a consistent spot in the rotation.
However, the six-year veteran is not ready to relinquish his spot yet. After scoring 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting in Monday’s preseason win over the Brooklyn Nets, he has a message for the Sixers and everybody who’s doubting him.
“I see all those signings and new players coming in,” Korkmaz said after the win. “This is normal. This is the nature of basketball. The way that I ended last year, I’m not offended or pissed off at anybody of who they are signing and everything but, at the end of the day, if I can be myself, I know what I’m capable of and what I can do. So I’m just gonna try and do my best and give the team whatever it takes to win the championship and I think I’m gonna be a huge part of it.”
Korkmaz even has a message for a guy like Joe. The young prospect is his teammate and he wants him to succeed, but he also wants his minutes out on the floor.
“I’m happy for him,” Korkmaz said of Joe. “Personally, I have nothing against him. Of course, everybody’s talking about player rotations and the regular season rotations, what should be, what should not be, but at the end of the day, he’s my friend. On the court, not just Isaiah, we’re all challenging for the minutes. We’re all fighting for it. At the end of the day, I’m gonna keep saying this every time, if I can be myself, if I can 100% be myself, I’m gonna get those minutes so I can just say this.”
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Korkmaz revealed he had nerve damage in his fingers in the second half of the 2021-22 season. Now that he is feeling right and being himself, he is looking to prove himself again and keep his spot out on the floor.
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