Hidayet Türkoğlu

Hidayet Türkoğlu — Biography

Hidayet "Hedo" Türkoğlu is remembered as the first Turkish-born player in the NBA; in a 15-season career he played as a forward for six teams, and he is now president of the Turkish Basketball Federation. With Orlando Magic he was named Most Improved Player, with the national team he won two silver medals, and in 2026 he was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame.

His height got him onto the school team, he won a scholarship to Özel Çavuşoğlu College and at 16 he signed with Efes Pilsen. Sacramento Kings picked him 16th in the first round of the 2000 NBA draft. After a season with the San Antonio Spurs he played for Orlando Magic from 2004 to 2009; in 2007-08 he averaged 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists and won the Most Improved Player award, and in 2009 he carried the team to an NBA Finals that it lost to the Lakers 4-1. He later played for the Toronto Raptors, the Phoenix Suns, Orlando again and the LA Clippers, and retired on 13 November 2015.

With the national team he won silver at EuroBasket 2001 and at the 2010 World Championship, and left the team in 2014. On 16 November 2015 he became CEO of the federation, was elected president on 26 October 2016 and re-elected in 2021 and 2024; he opened the Basketball Development Center. In 2016 he was appointed a senior adviser to the President of Turkey.