Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) President Hidayet Türkoğlu, who was elected to the 2026 Hall of Fame by FIBA, received his award at the ceremony held at Kraftwerk Berlin in Berlin, the capital of Germany. Hidayet Türkoğlu, who successfully represented Turkish basketball in the Sacramento Kings and other teams, for which he was drafted to the NBA, as well as his achievements with the National Team throughout his career, explained the background of his career achievements and the process that led to him becoming the first Turkish elected to the Hall of Fame, in his special statements to Demirören News Agency (DHA).
Hidayet Türkoğlu, who started his speech by stating that he was happy and proud to be elected to the Hall of Fame, said, “I feel really lucky to be able to represent my country and my family in one of the biggest organizations in Europe, or the most meaningful organization. But these processes are not processes achieved alone. That’s why I would like to express my gratitude and gratitude to my family, my wife, my friends, my loved ones, the managers and coaches I worked with, to all of them, to the millions of people who supported me in this process, and to everyone who kept their prayers in this process.” he said.
‘I GET THIS AWARD FOR EVERYONE’
Commenting on achieving a historical success by becoming the first Turkish person to be elected to the Hall of Fame, Türkoğlu said, “Yes, I may be the first, but we have many valuable friends like me who have proudly represented their country, who have contributed to Turkish basketball for many years, and who will proudly represent them actively. I receive this award for everyone. I feel lucky in this sense. I would like to thank everyone who supported me in this process. I hope God Almighty will give me the strength to carry this responsibility properly. I hope we will give this to our young friends in this process. “We will continue to be the best example for our friends who will come after us,” he said.
‘AYDIN BROTHER ALWAYS WANTED TO TRAIN ME AS A DIFFERENT PLAYER AT A YOUNG AGE’
Hidayet Türkoğlu explained the reason for his special thanks to Aydın Örs in his speech at the Hall of Fame ceremony held in Berlin:
“As you know, I grew up in the Efes infrastructure. I worked with very valuable coaches during my time at Efes, including Mr. Tuncay as a club. As you know, I am a part of that team, the players who went to the first Final Four with Ergin Hodja. But both the club and Aydın Abi always wanted to raise me as a different player at a young age, and naturally, at the end of the investment they gave me, I really saw myself at a different point in terms of basketball. I think I improved myself in that sense, so it is a big deal for me in that sense. “They have a lot of effort.”
‘I THANKED STAN VAN GUNDY FOR MAKING ME BE A BETTER BASKETBALL PLAYER’
Türkoğlu, who played for the San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers in addition to his first team in the NBA, the Sacramento Kings, stated that Stan Van Gundy, especially when he was the head coach, helped him display his basketball skills more easily. Türkoğlu said, “I also worked with very valuable coaches in the NBA. Whether it was Rick Adelman or Gregg Popovich during my time in Sacramento, I had very valuable experiences with all of them. But I wanted to thank Stan Van Gundy for allowing me to display my basketball skills more easily and become a better basketball player in that sense. Because when you really look at my career, my time in Orlando was Hidayet, who had proven himself and achieved success as Hidayet in the NBA, who was one of the important players of the team, and who took responsibility. Our coach, “I showed these performances with the support of our teammates,” he said.
‘VERY VALUABLE PEOPLE WERE AROUND ME DURING THIS PROCESS’
Stating that many people, especially his family, friends and coaches, contributed to his path to success, Hidayet Türkoğlu said, “I worked with very valuable coaches and managers, both from primary school and until I quit. During this process, very valuable people were around me; my family, my wife, my friends… There were very valuable people around me who always wanted my well-being, always motivated me in this sense, and were happy with me in good times, bad times and good times. This success is not a success achieved alone. Even though we are in front of the showcase, we are behind the scenes.” “Our family and our spouses support us in good times and bad times. In this sense, I feel very lucky and I am glad they are all in my life,” he said.
‘I’M GLAD I HAVE EXPERIENCED THOSE PROCESSES’
Türkoğlu, who successfully wore the jerseys of many teams throughout his basketball career, said that they all had different meanings in his life. TBF President Türkoğlu continued his words as follows:
“Whether it’s our national teams, NBA teams or Efes times… Because naturally, as we get older, mature and experience, the responsibilities and roles in the team change… Let me start with Sacramento; the first beginning there, that excitement. Then, for a short time, I spent a short time in San Antonio with a very valuable coach and important players who have been successful for many years; then I worked with different coaches in Orlando for many years, but my period after Stan Van Gundy… The most improvement I achieved there was “Whether it’s the scoring player award, the NBA finals, etc. Naturally, our 2001 team, then our team in the 2010 World Championship, the world second place achieved as a result of an incredible harmony with the young and experienced, all of them have a special place in my career, so as I said, I’m glad I experienced them all.”
‘NBA IS THE BIGGEST ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD, I FEEL LUCKY TO KEEP MYSELF THERE FOR 15 YEARS’
Hidayet Türkoğlu, who reached the peak of his career in the NBA, which is considered as the biggest organization in basketball in the world, concluded his words by saying, “NBA is the biggest organization in the world. I feel lucky to be able to stay there for 15 years. That’s why, from my first match to my last match, they are all very meaningful and valuable to me. After all, being able to stay in the biggest organization in the world for so many years and playing against so many athletes, they all have a special value for me.”