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Former Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu called it quits on Friday, laying rest to a 15 year career playing for teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers. Having tasted the most success with the Magic, the Orlando franchise has announced it will honor and recognize the Turkish national during a special ceremony to be held on December 18th, when the Magic host the Portland Trailblazers.
“I am very thankful and grateful for the opportunity to live out my dream and play in the NBA,” said Turkoglu. “I will always remember my teammates, coaches, staff members and all of the fans who made my career so wonderful for myself and my family.”
Turkoglu represented the Orlando Magic in 497 (412 starts) of his career 997 games (571 starts). During his time in Orlando he was named the Most Improved Player Award for the 2007-08 season and also helped superstar Dwight Howard in leading the team to the NBA Finals in 2009, the franchise’s first trip to the main event since 1995. After losing to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games in the 09 NBA Finals, Turkoglu opted out of his expiring contract and that’s when his career took a turn for the worse.
Since the 2009 off-season he has bounced around 4 teams in the span of six years, including a second stint with the Magic. His level of production and playing time took a hit every season since the summer of 2009, eventually resulting in Turkoglu only playing garbage time for the Clippers for the last season and a half.
Originally drafted by the Sacramento Kings as the 16th overall in the 2000 NBA Draft, he ranks among the top 10 in almost every statistical category for the Magic. He ranks fourth in minutes played with 16,233, sixth in points scored with 7,216, sixth in games played with 497, sixth in assists with 1972 and fourth in three-point field goals made with 794.
His career stats average at 11.1 points, 4 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 42.6 shooting from the field and a respectable long range shooting percentage (for a 6’10” forward) of 38.4%. Here is a mix of the top plays by Hedo in his time in the NBA:
Guess the Lakers players!
