Utah Jazz: The 50 greatest players in franchise history
By Matt Giles
All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 13 Mehmet Okur
- Seasons with the franchise: Seven (2004-05 to 2010-11)
- Regular-season games played: 474
- Averages as a Jazzman: 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks
- Shooting percentages: 46.2 from the field, 38.1 from three, 80.4 from the foul line
- Playoff games with Utah: 32
- Postseason averages: 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks
Memo. Money Man.
As was the case for many guys on this ranking, Mehmet Okur enjoyed his most productive seasons as a pro while with the Utah Jazz.
A former second-round pick from Turkey who arrived in Salt Lake City as a free agent in 2004, fresh off his title run as a key reserve for the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons, the multifaceted stretch big man scored at least 12 points per game in all of his seasons in Utah except his last. Meanwhile, he also consistently grabbed seven or more rebounds per game.
Unfortunately, an Achilles tear in April 2010 all but ended the 6-foot-11, 250-pounder’s pro career. Still, Okur was a one-time All-Star as a Jazzman (2007) and was quite durable — playing in at least 72 games in each of his first six seasons with the franchise — up until his serious injury.