I was in Orlando when Hedo (Turkoglu) was the guy in Orlando. And when he went to the Finals with the Magic. So I actually watched a lot of him growing up and was actually a big fan. And a very high-level player, I think, borderline All-Star for many years.
But I think Alperen is just like a different kind of breed. I think he’s just like this hybrid kind of player that doesn’t come around too often. There’s not one thing he cannot do on the floor. He can handle the ball, he can pass the ball, he can shoot the ball, he has touch around the rim, and he has IQ and he has the flashiness.
You know, Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t flavorful; he’s just so dominant. Like, he just runs through people, and he’s just so dominant in the way he plays, but you wouldn’t say Giannis has a flashy game. You know, (Nikola) Jokic is very fundamental, super high IQ, makes the incredible passes, but you wouldn’t say it’s like super flashy, flashy. So I think the combination of like the flair, the excitement, the talent, the IQ, all of it, and a 23-year-old kid.
He’s going to tell you about it, too. It’s like, ‘When I’m having my day, I really don’t think anybody can guard me.’ Like, that’s a 23-year-old kid from Turkey saying that. The confidence is just what sets him apart.
You saw it when I played against him when he was 18 years old in the Turkish League, and it’s been that same kind of level of confidence, and just continued to build. And now with the accolades and All-Star, the world stage is now, everybody is watching him, and he’s just like, ‘I’m ready for this moment.’
He dunks the ball the other day, and he walks down the court, and he’s like, ‘I told you.’ Heart, mind, it’s all there. The fundamentals are there, the attitude is there, the flash is there. Everything for somebody to break through and become that guy is all there for him. And I’m excited to see where his future is, and I’m glad to be a part of his journey.