Hidayet Turkoglu has been officially inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, marking a major milestone in his career.
Speaking at the ceremony in Kraftwerk Berlin, Türkoğlu described the moment as both an honor and deeply emotional, highlighting how basketball allowed him to represent Türkiye on the global stage.
Reflecting on his 15-year NBA journey, Türkoğlu said becoming the first Turkish-born player in the league was a turning point—not just for him, but for Turkish basketball. He emphasized how the NBA pushed him to grow both as an athlete and as a person.
He also paid tribute to key figures in his development, including coach Aydin Ors, who shaped his early career, and Stan Van Gundy, who trusted him at the highest level.
Türkoğlu praised FIBA as the true home of international basketball, where players from different cultures come together and dream beyond borders.
Looking ahead, he expressed hope that more young athletes from Türkiye and around the world will follow similar paths and achieve global success.
Source: Newstimehub
