Many are obsessing over the potential of Dragen Bender. However, there is another 2016 NBA Draft prospect of international fame that deserves our attention.
Furkan Korkmaz isn’t going to be a top-five pick like Bender, but he could be every bit as good. The Turkish superstar is one of the Draft’s best sleeper prospects.
Standing at 6’7, Korkmaz is listed as a shooting guard. That’s an ideal height for an NBA roster. What makes him so intriguing is the possibility of a move to point guard. Korkmaz is an excellent ball handler, and can get to the rim with ease. He simply oozes the type of potential that teams look for in a draftee.
Korkmaz wouldn’t be the tallest point guard on an NBA roster, that honor goes to 6’11 Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he’d certainly be one of the league’s most vertically gifted primary ball handlers.
Korkmaz also has something in common with MVP point guard Steph Curry, and that’s a dangerous stroke from three-point range. He averaged just under 45 percent from beyond the arc during Euroleague and Turkish league competition.
You can already count in Korkmaz becoming a fan favorite wherever he goes. He recently won the Turkish league dunk contest dressed as Darth Vader. It’s that kind of showmanship that will garner him some serious attention amongst the NBA faithful.
Korkmaz might not be the top prospect in the 2016 NBA Draft, but that shouldn’t stop a team from taking a chance on the 18-year-old. He has the ability to play both guard positions and a sweet stroke from three, that’s exactly what scouts look for in a backcourt player nowadays.
Also, he could be able to knock off Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon at the dunk contest, but that’s just an added bonus.
While Korkmaz might not be as pro ready or gifted as Dragen Bender, there is no question he warrants a lottery selection, and over time could be a legitimate force in the NBA.
Follow Daniel James Gentile on Twitter @dgentleman9288