After seven years with the Philadelphia 76ers, guard Furkan Korkmaz will now continue his playing career overseas. According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, the 27-year-old has agreed to a deal to join AS Monaco of the EuroLeague.
Furkan Korkmaz is signing an overseas contract with EuroLeague’s AS Monaco.
Korkmaz spent seven years with the Sixers before being traded to the Pacers in February and immediately released. pic.twitter.com/PmvSMMOhZp
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 28, 2024
The 76ers drafted Korkmaz with the No. 26 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. With Philadelphia, the Turkish native played 328 total games for the team. In those games, he averaged 6.8 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
Most recently, Korkmaz began the 2023-24 season with the 76ers. However, in February, the team traded Korkmaz to the Indiana Pacers as part of the trade that landed them Buddy Hield. The Pacers waived Korkmaz before he appeared in a game for them, however, and he did not sign with another team after.
7-Year Philadelphia 76ers Veteran to Resume Career Overseas
Furkan Korkmaz Wanted to Remain in the NBA
After getting waived by the Pacers, there were questions about whether Korkmaz would continue playing in the NBA. At the time, the guard revealed that his agent had been talking to “a couple of different NBA teams.” Ultimately, nothing came to fruition for Korkmaz.
“This was a preplanned trip to Turkey for the All-Star break so that I could spend a little bit of time with my family and friends,” Korkmaz added. “I will be going back to the United States in a few days, where my agent is currently holding talks with a couple of different NBA teams.”
Other Notable Players to Suit Up for AS Monaco
Korkmaz is just one of many NBA players to join the AS Monaco roster. The most recent notable name is former All-NBA guard Kemba Walker. Walker, now a player enhancement coach for the Charlotte Hornets, joined AS Monaco last year.
Furthermore, the reigning EuroLeague MVP Mike James is a member of the AS Monaco roster. James spent parts of three seasons in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, and Brooklyn Nets. Earlier this summer, James signed a three-year contract extension to keep him with the team through the 2027 season.
Other notable players include two-time champion Norris Cole, former NBA forward Dwayne Bacon, and 2011 first-round pick Donatas Motiejunas.
The Last Word on Furkan Korkmaz
As a player in the NBA, Korkmaz was solid but nothing special. He was a solid shooter and sometimes provided a boost for the 76ers, but he was replaceable. Additionally, he averaged just 9.1 minutes per game over his last two seasons. Regardless, it is possible this is not the end of Korkmaz’s time in the NBA. He made it clear earlier in the year that he did not want to leave the league. Now, he is in a position to build his value back up and potentially re-enter the NBA in the future.
