LOS ANGELES — The prodigious Hedo Turkoglu was once nicknamed “the Michael Jordan of Turkey,” but by the end of his seventh year in the NBA, his career was, if anything, more like that of the Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards.
It was 2007 and Turkoglu was 28. He had averaged 13.3 points for the Magic. He had never eclipsed 15 points per game in his career — hardly Air Turkoglu.
But, in the type of story that makes sports great, he’s playing the best basketball of his career as he pushes 30, having helped the Magic make the NBA Finals.
“It’s being in the right situation at the right time,” Turkoglu said Friday, with his team down 1-0 to the Lakers. “When you have a coach giving you a lot of confidence and players who believe in you and trust in you, there’s only one thing you can do — just go out there and do my job.”
The coach is Stan Van Gundy. He is credited with opening up Turkoglu’s game, seeing the potential of an unorthodox 6-foot-10 player playing point forward, handling the ball and shooting 3s.
With the departure of Grant Hill — and then a young up-and- comer named Trevor Ariza, now with the Lakers — Turkoglu suddenly got more playing time.
And Van Gundy told him to shoot early and shoot often. The result was a 3-point weapon tough to defend because of his height. Turkoglu won the NBA’s most improved player award a season ago, unusual for a player his age, and was every bit as good this season in Orlando’s magical run.
“He’s never really had a chance until the last two years to be a key guy that had the ball in his hands all the time with a chance to create both for himself and his teammates,” Van Gundy said. “I think in my mind in this league, there’s the stars who, no matter what system or what team you put them with, are going to be great players — Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce, LeBron James.
“And then I think there’s a lot of guys that can really thrive and do what Hedo has done if they’re in the situation where they get the opportunity and the system fits their skills. He’s taken great advantage of the opportunity he’s gotten.”
A year ago, Turkoglu averaged 19.5 points per game, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists, career highs in all three categories. This season, he averaged 16.8, 5.3 and 4.9, and in the postseason has shown a penchant for hitting last-second shots, a la, well, Jordan.
Ariza, also an emerging player in these playoffs, said Friday he believes Turkoglu is a “much better player now” — and a lot of that has to do with confidence. One can also point to the pick-and-roll game Orlando thrives on, notably with the attention-grabbing Dwight Howard, and the ball movement spearheaded by Jameer Nelson.
“(Turkoglu) has relished (being) a starter,” said Magic reserve Tony Battie, a longtime teammate. “His game came alive. He was just waiting in the wings to get his opportunity.”
In Game 1, Turkoglu scored 13 points and struggled from the field, shooting 3-for-11. But these playoffs have been an up-and-down ride for Orlando, which has knocked off the Sixers, Celtics and Cavaliers, and Turkoglu expressed confidence Friday that he, and his teammates, will shoot much better in Game 2. (Then again, it would be hard to shoot worse.)
Teammates say Turkoglu is the team joker, a pleasure to be around. Battie laughed when he was asked to describe Turkoglu’s personality, pointing out his keen ability to “play the ‘dumb foreigner’ routine, saying he doesn’t understand something when he totally understands.
“If something is going on, he’ll give you the ‘Huh?’ and you’re thinking you’ll have to explain it to him, and then he’ll give you a wink.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
