# Hedo Türkoğlu
**Hedo Türkoğlu** (Hidayet Türkoğlu, born 1979 in Istanbul, Türkiye) is a Turkish former professional basketball player who was the first Turkish-born player in NBA history and now serves as President of the Turkish Basketball Federation, a position he has held since 2016[1](https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2026-fiba-hall-of-fame-hedo-tuerkoglu) • [2](https://www.nba.com/player/2045/hedo-turkoglu/stats). A 6-foot-10 (2.08 m), 220-pound forward, he played 15 NBA seasons, won the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2007-08, and reached the 2009 [NBA Finals](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-finals) with the [Orlando Magic](https://www.edgepedia.org/orlando-magic)[2](https://www.nba.com/player/2045/hedo-turkoglu/stats) • [3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979, Istanbul, Türkiye; 6'10" (2.08 m), 220 lb (100 kg)[2](https://www.nba.com/player/2045/hedo-turkoglu/stats) |
| NBA draft | 2000, first round, 16th overall, by the Sacramento Kings[2](https://www.nba.com/player/2045/hedo-turkoglu/stats) |
| NBA teams | Kings (three seasons), San Antonio Spurs (2003-04), Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns; 15 seasons[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html) • [2](https://www.nba.com/player/2045/hedo-turkoglu/stats) |
| Peak season | 2007-08: career bests of 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 82 games; NBA Most Improved Player[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html) |
| 2009 Finals run | Secondary playmaker and clutch scorer for the Magic, averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 40% three-point shooting in the Eastern Conference finals against Cleveland[4](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/howard-y-los-magic-2008-09-van-gundy-y-el-sueno-de-superman-f202603-n/) |
| National team | 309 games over 21 years with Turkey (1994-2014); 2010 FIBA World Cup All-Star Five and runner-up finish[1](https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2026-fiba-hall-of-fame-hedo-tuerkoglu) • [5](https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/basketball/yearbooks/KORLMMG-2013.pdf) |
| Post-playing role | President of the Turkish Basketball Federation since 2016; 2026 FIBA Hall of Fame inductee[1](https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2026-fiba-hall-of-fame-hedo-tuerkoglu) |
## Early career in Turkey
Türkoğlu was born and raised in Istanbul and began playing basketball at age 10[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html) • [5](https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/basketball/yearbooks/KORLMMG-2013.pdf). He played four Turkish Professional League seasons (1996-2000) with Efes Pilsen, averaging 8.3 points on .569 shooting, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 87 league games, and 8.4 points in 50 [EuroLeague](https://www.edgepedia.org/euroleague) games[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html). He helped Efes Pilsen reach the 2000 EuroLeague Final Four, averaging 13.6 points in 22 tournament games that season[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html).
His 2000 NBA signing with the Kings was treated as a national sports event in Turkey, with a nationally televised press conference[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html).
## NBA career
**Kings, Spurs, and arrival in Orlando.** Sacramento selected Türkoğlu 16th overall in the 2000 draft. He spent three seasons with the Kings and one with the [San Antonio Spurs](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-antonio-spurs) (2003-04) before signing as a free agent with the Orlando Magic in the 2004 offseason[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html). In Orlando he averaged double figures in scoring in each of his five subsequent seasons there[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html).
**The 2007-09 peak.** In 2007-08 he set career bests across the board: 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game in 82 games, on 45.6 percent shooting in 36.9 minutes a night, and was named the NBA's Most Improved Player[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html) • [2](https://www.nba.com/player/2045/hedo-turkoglu/stats). The next season he averaged 16.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 5.3 rebounds[6](https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2014/01/23/1995-2009-better-orlando-magic-team/). Playing as a point-forward alongside [Dwight Howard](https://www.edgepedia.org/dwight-howard) and [Rashard Lewis](https://www.edgepedia.org/rashard-lewis) in coach [Stan Van Gundy](https://www.edgepedia.org/stan-van-gundy)'s system, he acted as a secondary playmaker and took over closing duties with an unusual knack for clutch time[4](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/howard-y-los-magic-2008-09-van-gundy-y-el-sueno-de-superman-f202603-n/). In the 2009 playoffs he averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 40 percent three-point shooting as the Magic eliminated the 66-16 Cleveland Cavaliers and reached the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Lakers[4](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/howard-y-los-magic-2008-09-van-gundy-y-el-sueno-de-superman-f202603-n/).
**Toronto and the return to Orlando.** With a player option for the final year of his contract, he opted out and left Orlando as a free agent after the 2009 run[7](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/07/87/20/00137/06-16-2009.pdf). On July 9, 2009, the [Toronto Raptors](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-raptors) acquired him in a four-team sign-and-trade; Raptors president [Bryan Colangelo](https://www.edgepedia.org/bryan-colangelo) called him an ideal fit with a diverse skill set[3](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html). His production fell after leaving Orlando, with disappointing stints in Toronto and Phoenix[8](https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2013/05/05/what-went-wrong-hedo-turkoglu-050313/). In December 2010 Orlando reacquired him, along with [Gilbert Arenas](https://www.edgepedia.org/gilbert-arenas), Jason Richardson, and Earl Clark, in a three-team trade that sent Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Marcin Gortat, and Mickael Pietrus out[9](https://www.nba.com/magic/news/savage_turkoglu_121810.html). The reunion worked at first: the Magic went 9-2 after the trade, and Türkoğlu picked up roughly where he had left off in 2009[10](https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-kelly-dwyer/whatever-cost-hedo-turkoglus-orlando-reunion-working--nba.html).
**Decline and suspension.** His second Orlando stint ended badly. He broke his hand on opening night of the 2012-13 season, and in mid-February 2013 he was suspended 20 games for violating the league's anti-doping policy; he attributed the positive test to a substance he said he had accidentally taken from a trainer in Turkey during the offseason[8](https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2013/05/05/what-went-wrong-hedo-turkoglu-050313/). When the suspension ended, the rebuilding Magic had committed to their young players, and he did not appear again; a February 4 loss in Philadelphia was likely his final NBA game[8](https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2013/05/05/what-went-wrong-hedo-turkoglu-050313/).
His career NBA averages were 11.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game[2](https://www.nba.com/player/2045/hedo-turkoglu/stats).
## Turkish national team
Türkoğlu's international career was exceptionally long: 309 games over 21 years with the Turkish national team, from 1994 to 2014, including eight consecutive FIBA EuroBaskets (1999-2013) and two FIBA World Cups (2002 and 2010)[1](https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2026-fiba-hall-of-fame-hedo-tuerkoglu). At the 2010 FIBA World Championship on home soil, Turkey finished runner-up and he was named to the tournament's All-Star Five[1](https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2026-fiba-hall-of-fame-hedo-tuerkoglu) • [5](https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/basketball/yearbooks/KORLMMG-2013.pdf).
## Post-playing career and recognition
Since 2016 Türkoğlu has been President of the Turkish Basketball Federation, and he was named to the FIBA Hall of Fame class of 2026[1](https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2026-fiba-hall-of-fame-hedo-tuerkoglu). His individual honors also include selection to the NBA All-Star Rising Stars Game (rookies-sophomores) in 2002[1](https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2026-fiba-hall-of-fame-hedo-tuerkoglu).
## References
1. [2026 FIBA Hall of Fame: Hedo Türkoğlu, FIBA Basketball](https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/2026-fiba-hall-of-fame-hedo-tuerkoglu)
2. [Hedo Turkoglu | Forward | Orlando Magic | NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/player/2045/hedo-turkoglu/stats)
3. [Raptors Acquire Turkoglu, George and Wright, Toronto Raptors (July 9, 2009)](https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/turkoglu_acquired_070909.html)
4. [Howard y los Magic 2008-09: Van Gundy y el sueño de Superman, AS](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/howard-y-los-magic-2008-09-van-gundy-y-el-sueno-de-superman-f202603-n/)
5. [Orlando Magic Media Guide (2013)](https://library.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/publications/basketball/yearbooks/KORLMMG-2013.pdf)
6. [1995 or 2009: The Better Orlando Magic Team, Orlando Magic Daily](https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2014/01/23/1995-2009-better-orlando-magic-team/)
7. [The Breeze (June 16, 2009), University of Florida archives](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/07/87/20/00137/06-16-2009.pdf)
8. [What Went Wrong: Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic Daily](https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2013/05/05/what-went-wrong-hedo-turkoglu-050313/)
9. [Savage: Turk's Triumphant Return, Orlando Magic](https://www.nba.com/magic/news/savage_turkoglu_121810.html)
10. [At whatever cost, Hedo Turkoglu's Orlando reunion is working, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-kelly-dwyer/whatever-cost-hedo-turkoglus-orlando-reunion-working--nba.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › NBA players, 1996–2010 › NBA forwards, 1996–2010*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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