Okur chatted on Jan. 26.
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Mehmet Okur is in his fourth NBA season and second with the Utah Jazz after signing with the team as a free agent prior to the 2004-05 season. The only Jazz player to see action in all 82 games last season, Okur set career highs in games in virtually every category, including points scored, rebounds, assists and blocks. Okur finished as the team?s fourth leading scorer, averaging a career-high 12.9 points, while shooting .468 percent from the field and a team best .850 percent from the line. He scored in double-figures in 60 of the 82 games, including 14 games of +20 points, tallying a career-high tying 27 points vs. the Lakers on March 22, 2005.
He was the first Jazz center to score 1,000 points in a season since Rich Kelley accomplished the feat in 1978-79 Okur also finished second on the team in rebounding, averaging 7.5 per game, including a season-high 17 rebounds vs. Denver on March 30, 2005. He posted 22 double-doubles on the season. In three NBA seasons with Utah and Detroit, Okur has appeared in 225 games and posted career averages of 9.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.76 blocks and 23.3 minutes. He played in 39 playoff games in his two seasons with Detroit, including 22 of the 23 games during the Pistons' Championship run during the 2004 playoffs.
Originally selected by the Pistons in the second round of the 2001 NBA Draft (38th pick overall), Okur played five years professionally in the Turkish League (1997-02). A native of Yalova, Turkey, Okur married the former Miss Turkey and also carried the Olympic flame during the Olympic Torch relay in Istanbul prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Okur chatted live with fans on January 26. See the complete chat transcript below:
ecg (Istanbul): What's the biggest difference for you between the last season and this season?
Mehmet Okur: The biggest difference is I was in very good shape this year. I played for two months with the Turkish National Team over the summer and I was also healthy going into training camp, where I had a real good camp and felt very strong going into the season.
Greg00 (Warsaw, Poland): Which position do you prefer to play at - the power forward or center?
Mehmet Okur: Actually they call me a 5, but I've never really been a 5, except my rookie year in Detroit. But my real position is the 4.
Enis (istanbul): What about being an allstar? Do you think you deserve it? thanks
Mehmet Okur: Ha-ha (Laughing) I'm not worried about All-Star right now. I'm focusing on playing well and most importantly I'm focusing on the Jazz winning games. The Jazz winning is my priority, not the All-Star Game. I don't worry about that.
Alan (San Jose): Did not being the starter for much of the games last season change your mindset for this season?
Mehmet Okur: I came in this year in very good shape and the coach went with me as a starter, which is great. I feel good and I'm playing hard, night in and night out and I think the coach is happy with that.
Satwik (NJ): What carrer whould you have end up with if you weren't playing in the NBA?
Mehmet Okur: I have no idea, I've never thought about that.
William (Rockville, MD): Mehmet, What was your favorite memory playing on the 2004 championship team Detroit Pistons?
Mehmet Okur: I had a great time that year, when we won the NBA Championship. I can't pick out one special thing. I just had a great time over there, everyday, that whole year.
teko, tokyo: Who is your idol?
Mehmet Okur: Toni Kukoc. Growing up he was my idol.
Colton(pleasant veiw ,Ut: when did you started to play basketball.
Mehmet Okur: When I was 15 I started to play basketball, which is much later than most kids. That summer, I got tall, much taller than my friends, so I started playing basketball.
Joe (Washington, DC): What was it like moving from Detroit to Salt Lake City?
Mehmet Okur: I like living in Salt Lake. There is only one professionial team here, and they really, really love the Jazz, it's all about the Jazz, so I really like that.
Ziggy(IL): What kind of music do you listen to?
Mehmet Okur: I like to listen to Turkish music and hip-hop.
mehmet okur(burtonsville): how is it playing for jerry sloan
Mehmet Okur: He is such a great coach. He's been in this league for over 30 years and is such a great teacher. He is also a very good person, in addtion to being a good teacher. He stresses hard work and discpline, which is good.
Huseyin (Savannah, GA): Who do you think is the most difficult player to play against? Shaq? :)
Mehmet Okur: Shaq. Kevin Garnett. Tim Duncan. Those are great players.
Emir (Istanbul): Mehmet, firstly we are proud of you as Turks. What's your favorite junk food in USA?
Mehmet Okur: Ha-ha (Laughing) McDonald's maybe.
Nathan: why do you where number 13?
Mehmet Okur: Because I've always had No. 13 and I like to prove to people that No. 13 is NOT an unlucky number.
Ahmet--Istanbul/Turkey: memo i just like to know who is your best friend in the NBA?
Mehmet Okur: Of course, my friend Hedo Turkoglu and also Andrei Kirilenko.
Süleyman (Zurich): Where is your favourite place of the world?
Mehmet Okur: Istanbul!
Darien (Richmond, VA): On NBA.com the have a poll of the early leaders for most improved player of the year. i was wonderin if u do u think ure gonna win it or if u don't who has a good shot to win?
Mehmet Okur: I have a chance. But as I said, as long as we keep winning here with the Jazz that is the most important thing. If we keep winning it could probably improve my chances for any awards or accolades. So, I'm just concentrating on winning games for the Jazz.
Umut (Amsterdam): Merhaba,
Is it realistic to say - now that Kirilenko is fully healed and you play better with him - that your team has a great chance of getting in to the play-offs???
Mehmet Okur: Of course. Our goal is to make the playoffs and that's what we're working hard on every day. We are also a young team and we're learning everyday too. As long as we work hard everday, in games and in practice and training, we can make the playoffs. Of course.
Mehmet Okur: I would like to thank the fans for supporting me, I really appreciate it and thank you for chatting with me and supporting the Utah Jazz.
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