Furkan Korkmaz’ game-winner from a few days ago is up there with Sundiata Gaines’ as the least expected in recent NBA history. The 76ers are loaded with offensive talent, and the game-sealing shot is hit by a little-used bench dude who doesn’t even get to use the nickname “The Motherfurker” because Furkan Aldemir got there first? That’s the stuff dreams are made of, baby. Sure, in his dreams it was probably in game 7 of the Finals and he’s shooting it over LeBron James and Kobe Bryant at the same time, but in reality he was probably resigned to the fact that he’d have to back to Europe if he ever wanted to hit a game-winner.
That shot must’ve given the 76ers a lot of confidence in him, because just the very next game (this one) he got the start. Matisse Thybulle is a great defender, supposedly, but his offense might literally be the worst in the league, so it’s no surprise to see him benched. Korkmaz’ defense is an unknown to me (it can’t be very good, can it?), but he does threaten defenses with his outside shooting. Kind of. I mean, he hit a game-winner, so you obviously can’t just leave him alone out there.
And with his first start of the year comes his first 20-burger. It didn’t help the 76ers win the game, even if he did hit a kinda clutch-ish three with only a few seconds left to keep them within reasonable striking distance. There’s a lot of blame to go around for this loss, mostly to Joel Embiid for being a huge bitch (even if he claims he isn’t, he totally is). Korkmaz receives none of it, unless you consider the fact that if he had scored as many points in the first three quarters as he did in the fourth (11), he would’ve had a 40-burger and outdueled Debin Booker to a win.