NBA managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Benjamin Morel said on Tuesday that Turkish basketball boasted high quality players that could play in the NBA in the future.
In Istanbul for the promotion of a skills challenge to be held from March until June with the cooperation of the municipality, Morel told Anadolu Agency that Istanbul presented remarkable potential to foster basketball players.
"This is going to be such a great program for the kids of Istanbul," Morel said. "We try to raise the love for basketball."
There are currently three Turkish players competing in the NBA: New Orleans Pelicans center Ömer Aşık, Orlando Magic forward Ersan İlyasova and Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter.
"I think that Turkey will be in a strong position in the EuroBasket 2017 to be held in Turkey," said Morel.
Meanwhile, Morel paid tribute to Turkish Basketball Federation CEO, Hidayet Türkoğlu who is a former Orlando Magic player.
"Hidayet has been a fantastic ambassador for the sport of basketball, not only for the NBA but for Turkish basketball and global basketball," Morel added.
Türkoğlu, started his career with Efes Pilsen, now known as Anadolu Efes, in 1996 and after a four-year spell with the Istanbul club, he was drafted by the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
He also played for the San Antonio Spurs, the Orlando Magic, the Toronto Raptors, the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Türkoğlu was picked for the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in his first season in the NBA. In 2008, he received the "NBA Most Improved Player Award".
"Hedo" Türkoğlu was a Magic regular when the Eastern Conference team lost in the 2009 NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1.
In total, Türkoğlu had played 997 regular season matches in the NBA and 98 playoff games.
He was the most-capped player of Turkey's national team.
