After rough Sixers debut, Furkan Korkmaz promises a better next game
The new Sixer has already put his 0-for-5 Summer League debut behind him.
SALT LAKE CITY – Furkan Korkmaz's summer-league debut was underwhelming.
The newly signed 76ers swingman finished with just three points and missed all five of his shots in Wednesday night's 100-94 setback to Utah in the Jazz's Summer League.
"Tomorrow is a new day, a new challenge," Korkmaz said of Thursday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. "I will be ready for tomorrow. So we will see how I'm going to play. But I hope I play well."
Korkmaz made 3 of 5 foul shots and finished with two rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a turnover in 16 minutes, 56 seconds. While he did a good job of sharing the ball, the 6-foot-7, 192-pound swingman appeared to rush his shots. Korkmaz had a tough time adjusting to the speed, physicality and pace of the NBA game.
He missed both of his first-quarter shots, one a three-pointer. On that play, he dribbled to create space before missing.
In the second quarter, Korkmaz drove in for a layup after stealing the ball. However, he missed a contested layup on which a foul could have been called.
Then the Turkish player missed both of his attempts – three-pointers – in the third quarter. He didn't attempt a shot in his 58 seconds of action in the fourth.
"It was my first game. I just started," Korkmaz said. "So I have to be better and better every day. Tomorrow, like I said, is a new day."
Korkmaz's performance came after a hectic two days.
On Monday, Korkmaz had an 11-hour flight from Istanbul to Philadelphia before boarding a five-hour flight here. He signed his contract Tuesday. His first practice with the summer-league team was Wednesday morning's shootaround.
Korkmaz was also excited because he had waited more than a year for this moment. As a result, nerves could have factored into his performance.
The Sixers drafted him 26th overall in 2016. However, he was still under contract with Turkish team Anadolu Efes. Korkmaz was recently able to buy his way out of that deal. That's what enabled him to sign with the Sixers.
"I don't want to say any excuse," Korkmaz said. "But it was possible that I was on the trip, etc. I will be good tomorrow."
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.