Up for auction the "Utah Jazz" Mehmet Okur Hand Signed 8X10 Color Photo. This item is
certified authentic by Certified Authentic Service (CAS) and comes with their
Certificate of Authenticity and matching hologram.
ES-855A
Mehmet Murat Okur (born
26 May 1979) is a Turkish retired professional basketball player. Listed at 6 ft 11 in
(2.11 m), he played as a power forward and center. He was known for
his three-point shooting and ability to space the floor. In his 7 seasons with
the Utah Jazz, Mehmet Okur emerged as one of the premier shooting players in
the NBA. From 2004-10 Okur displayed a talent for making big shots in pressure
situations - earning him the nickname of "The Money Man" and
"Memo is Money" amongst Jazz fans. On 13 September 2016, Okur was
named a player development coach for the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first Turkish citizen to enter the
coaching world in the NBA. Standing 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) and
290 lbs (132 kg), Okur played the center and power forward positions
for the Utah Jazz. In his first season (2004–2005) with Utah, he
played in all 82 games, starting in 25 of them. Nicknamed "Memo",
Okur made his presence felt during his second (2005–2006) season with Utah,
increasing his scoring average from 12.9 points per game the previous season to
18.0 points per game. He started in all 82 games for the second straight
season, the only Utah Jazz player to do so. In his third season, he continued
to be a key player for Utah. He
was named to the Western Conference All-Star
team for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. He
and Ray Allen were selected as replacements for injured original
members Allen Iverson and Steve Nash. He was the first Turkish player to
participate in this event. On Monday, 12 January 2009, Okur established a new
career high in points scored when he scored 43 points against the Indiana Pacers. On 10 July 2009 Okur signed a two-year
contract extension reportedly worth approximately $21 million. On
17 April 2010, Okur ruptured his Achilles' tendon during the first game of the
post-season against the Denver Nuggets, eliminating him from the remainder of the NBA
playoffs, as well as the World Basketball Championships in his native Turkey
later that summer. He returned on 17 December 2010 and scored 2 points against
the New Orleans Hornets.