The United States came home from the 2010 FIBA World Championship with its first Worlds gold medal since 1994. But the biggest story out of Istanbul was arguably the play of the Turkish National Team.In reaching the gold medal game, the Turkish team had their best-ever showing in international competition, capturing the hearts of their countrymen along the way. The home crowd in both Ankara and Istanbul, singing or whistling on every possession, helped the Turks achieve a level of play that few thought they could reach before the tournament began.
If you just watched the gold medal game, you may not have noticed either Omer Asik or Semih Erden. With the United States' pressure defense keeping Turkey from getting the ball into its big men, they combined for just 14 points and six rebounds in 38 minutes. But both were key factors for Turkey in its eight victories prior to the final.
If you're neither a fan of the Chicago Bulls or Boston Celtics, it might take a while before you can distinguish Asik from Erden, because there are so many similarities between the two. Both were selected in the second round of the 2008 Draft, both were born in July of 1986 and both have spent the last three seasons with Fenerbahce Ulker in the Turkish league. They even have very similar skill sets.
Neither has a strong back-to-the-basket game or a reliable jumper. But both move well and can catch and finish at the rim, making pick-and-roll basketball where they're most comfortable. Neither is afraid of contact, but they will each need to add muscle to their frames.
Asik, originally selected with the 36th pick in '08 (and acquired in a Draft-day deal), will be a part of the Bulls' new look this season. He started at center for Turkey at the World Championship, averaging 8.9 points and 6.9 rebounds in 19.0 minutes.
Listed at 7-foot and 255 pounds, Asik is the bigger of the two. He took up a lot of space in the middle of Turkey's zone, which allowed the guards to extend out and put pressure on the perimeter.
The Bulls know that it might take a while for Asik to adjust to the speed of the NBA. With Kurt Thomas in place as Joakim Noah's backup at center, Asik will be allowed to come along slowly. Bulls officials think Asik could work his way into coach Tom Thibodeau's rotation by season's end, and they have high hopes for the 24-year-old -- who was signed to a two-year contract -- down the line.
"The biggest reason that we think he's got a bright future is really just his makeup and his character," Bulls general manager Gar Forman told NBA.com. "He's a terrific kid that's a real worker. He's a bright kid who wants to learn. So I think there's a lot of potential there."
Erden, who was selected by the Celtics with the 60th (and final) pick in '08, is listed at 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds. He came off the bench for Turkey and averaged 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 19.8 minutes at the World Championship. He often finished games and had a couple of huge plays -- an alley-oop dunk to put Turkey up one with 16 seconds left and a block at the buzzer to seal the win -- at the end of the thrilling semifinal victory over Serbia.
Erden is a little more athletic than Asik and could possibly play power forward in the NBA if he can develop a mid-range jumper. He is also signed to a two-year deal, but will have less of an opportunity than Asik to get consistent playing time before his contract is up. Erden was one of three centers the Celtics added this summer, and the other two, Jermaine and Shaquille O'Neal, have more than 2,000 games of NBA experience between them.
But Kendrick Perkins is out until at least February and it's highly doubtful that either O'Neal will play close to 82 games. So Erden will probably be called upon to contribute at some point this season. If he adjusts well to the NBA, he could be in the picture when the Celtics eventually rebuild.
Asik and Erden will take the number of Turkish players in the league from three (Milwaukee's Ersan Ilyasova, Utah's Mehmet Okur and Phoenix's Hedo Turkoglu) to five.
Both have the potential to be solid role players. And the adjustment from the international game to the NBA is a little easier for big men than it is for guards and small forwards. But a lot will depend on Asik's and Erden's ability to adjust to living in a new country and their willingness to deal with early setbacks.
If either can make an impact in the league, it will be another step forward for Turkish basketball.
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