New Jersey Nets' Mehmet Okur (13), of Turkey, during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former Utah Jazz big man, Mehmet Okur, announced his retirement from the NBA at the age of 33.
ESPN is saying Okur retired because injuries prevent him from being competitive at a high level. "A player of certain level should say goodbye to the sport he loves when his body doesn't let him to be as he used to be," Okur said Wednesday, his words were carried by Anadolu Agency in Turkey.
Okur played two seasons in Detroit, where he won an NBA title in 2004, before signing a six-year contract worth $50 million with the Utah Jazz in 2004-05. He was an All-Star with the Jazz during the 2006-07 season.
The Jazz traded Okur to the New Jersey Nets at the beginning of last season in return for a trade exception and the Nets' 2015 second-round draft pick. At the time, it reunited Okur with Deron Williams, a player with whom Okur played while both were members of the Jazz. The Nets subsequently traded Okur to Portland. He was waived in March.
Okur ranks fourth on Utah's career 3-pointers made list at 517, fifth for 3-pointers attemped with 1,358, ninth in rebounding with 3,599, ninth in blocked shots at 346 and ninth in scoring with 7,255.
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I have fond memories of Mehmet playing for our team. He was one of my favorites. I wish him only the best of luck in his retirement.
Mehmet is one of the classiest players to ever wear a Jazz uniform. I didn't like seeing him get traded, but I understand that is the nature of the business. I wish we could have watched him mentor the young turk for a couple years. The sad More..
I remember him most when he earned the nickname "money" after hitting several game winning shots. It was great seeing a tall guy hit the treys, we don't see that often.