https://youtu.be/zdo471TB1hQ
Furkan “The Motherfurker” Korkmaz started off this season a bit slowly, causing Sixers fans to wonder what had gone wrong with him. After playing a sizable bench role for them last season, it seemed like he was no longer suitable for that role. However, since March, the quality of Korkmaz’s play has improved, and he is no longer the sole target of Sixers fans’ unceasing ire. That ire is now directed towards Santa Claus, whom they will often boo at and throw snowballs towards.
I’m not always up on the business side of the NBA, but I do know one thing: this year is a contract year for Korkmaz, which means it is imperative that he play well enough to earn another NBA deal. At a minimum, that means playing well enough that Doc Rivers continues to give him a consistent role off the bench. A better-case scenario would be him raising his three point percentage to 40% or above (last year it was right at 40%) and demonstrating to teams that he is a valuable shooter that can fit in with any team, like prime Trevor Ariza (who, coincidentally enough, is well-known for his ability to play well in contract years). If Korkmaz closes out the season well, I could totally see him making eight million dollars per year. That’s a LOT of bottles of rakı.
And if Korkmaz wants more money than that, he has to figure out a way to get both Seth Curry and Tobias Harris injured permanently, and then average 20 PPG per game for the rest of the season as the #3 option behind Embiid and Simmons. This is where his assumed connections to the Turkish mafia will really come into play. Just call in a few favors and, boom, say hello to you big new contract.