This is the continuation of a new series by Sixers Wire to pass the time for everybody for the All-Star break. We’re going to take a look back at the 3 goals series from the offseason and see how each player has done in achieving those goals as well as give them a rating on how their season has gone. The rating will be based on a scale of 10 with 10 being how their season has gone based on the goals.
Saturday’s new edition takes a look at what Furkan Korkmaz has done in his third season in the NBA. Korkmaz has been given new life in the league to keep his once dying career going and he has taken advantage of it.
We now review his season based on the 3 goals we gave him in the offseason:
Seizing new opportunity
This was it for Korkmaz. The Sixers needed a shooter. They lost some key players on the wing in the offseason and this was an opportunity for Korkmaz to step up and fill a void and that is what he has done. He is shooting 39.2% from deep on the season, he’s averaging 9.3 points, and he is growing into the 3-point “bomber” that coach Brett Brown has been wanting to grow off his bench.
To even further the point, he is shooting 42.1% from deep over the final 13 games heading into the All-Star break. He even capped that off with back-to-back 30+ point games during the homestand. He has been exactly what the team needs off the bench.
Getting defensive
Korkmaz has a defensive rating of 110 on the season, which is the same as the 2018-19 season, but Brown says he sees improvement in his game defensively. He has started 12 games so far as he becomes a guy who has earned the trust of Brown so he must see something in him on the other end of the floor to continue to trust him. Even his teammates have expressed trust in him with Ben Simmons being the loudest supporter of him.
Adding to his offensive game
Korkmaz has shown off some new wrinkles to his game this season. He has been able to show an off the dribble game that has made him a little more dangerous on offense. He has been using his 6-foot-7 frame the right way all season as he has been able to draw defenders in with his shooting and then explode past them to get to the rim. He has had a few poster dunks recently that shows his growth.
He still is averaging only 1.0 assists per game so that could improve, but given his role on the team, he is not counted on to provide assists like that. He is relied on to spread the floor and give offense off the bench which is what he has done. He has had a terrific season thus far.
Rating: 9/10 [lawrence-related id=25839,25796,25805]