Korkmaz was born in Bakırköy, Istanbul. He started playing basketball with the school team when he was nine. In 2012, he moved to Anadolu Efes, from Efes' junior team, Yeşilyurt Spor Kulübü, for $250,000, at the age of 15.
Professional career
Anadolu Efes (2013–2017)
In his first year in the Efes club infrastructure, Korkmaz played for the junior and youth teams of Efes. He was loaned for the 2013–14 season to the Turkish 2nd-tier-levelTB2L team Pertevniyal, which was at the time the farm club of Anadolu Efes. In the summer of 2014, Korkmaz moved to the senior men's Anadolu Efes first team. His contract with Efes included a $2 million buyout clause for the NBA.[1]
On June 13, 2016, Korkmaz was one of 13 different international underclassmen to enter the 2016 NBA draft.[2] He was selected 26th in the first round, by the Philadelphia 76ers.[3] After being drafted, Korkmaz decided to return to Anadolu Efes for at least another season.
In Philadelphia's first game of the 2018 NBA Summer League, Korkmaz scored 40 points (including 8 three-pointers) in 28 minutes during an 89–95 loss to the Boston Celtics. It was the fifth-best scoring performance in Summer League history.[11][12]
After not seeing much playing time, Korkmaz requested a trade from the 76ers in November 2018. However, he ultimately stayed with the team[13] On December 10, Korkmaz scored 18 points off the bench in a win over the Detroit Pistons. On December 12, he had his first career start in place of the injured Jimmy Butler.
On July 25, 2019, Korkmaz re-signed with the 76ers on a two-year contract.[14][15] Throughout the season, he had made his way in and out the starting lineup, playing both shooting guard and small forward.[16] On November 2, Korkmaz hit the game-winner against the Portland Trail Blazers. On February 7, 2020, Korkmaz scored a career-high 34 points off the bench against the Memphis Grizzlies. One game later, Korkmaz went off again, scoring 31 points off the bench against the Chicago Bulls.[17] Korkmaz started 12 games, and averaged a career-high 21.7 minutes a game, and established career-high averages in points and rebounds per game at 9.8 and 2.3, respectively, while shooting a career-high 40.2% in three-point field goal accuracy.
In the 2020–21 season, Korkmaz had 11 starts in the abbreviated season, and averaged 9.1 points per game, along with 2.1 rebounds per game and 37.5% three-point shooting. He had career highs in assists and steals per game, at 1.5 and 0.9, respectively. In the playoffs, Korkmaz made four starts in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks when Danny Green was injured, ending his season.
On August 9, 2021, Korkmaz re-signed with the 76ers on a three-year contract.[18]
In February 2023, Korkmaz requested a trade from the 76ers for the second time during his stint with the team.[19]
He also played at the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, where he averaged 30.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 8.6 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game, in 30.3 minutes per game. At the 2017 Under-20 tournament, he also shot 35.6% overall from the field, 27.6% from three-point range, and 66.7% from free throw range.[25]
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