1 career championship + 1 All-Star, second round pick Oku s underrated path, and the showdown with Yao Yao that year

When it comes to Memit Oku, many people will first think of his years at Jazz - they have the two pairs of Deron and Boozer, which have a rigorous tactical system, iron-blooded and practical. For Yao Ming, Oku is one of the most difficult opponents to deal with. As a seven-foot center, Oku was able to pull out of the three-point line without hesitation, which was extremely rare in the NBA at that time. His pull and projection not only changed the Jazz's offensive space structure, but also determined the trend of the series to some extent.

But people often ignore that Oku actually got a championship ring early on - and that was not his gain at his peak, but a by-product of the Pistons' "supportive". In the 2001 draft, Oku was selected by the Pistons in the 38th pick in the second round, even ahead of Milicic, the second pick that year. The following year he entered the NBA and quickly gained a foothold in Detroit and became a high-quality substitute. In the 2003-04 season, he started 33 games at one time, played for more than 20 minutes, and played well both offense and defense.

However, with Rashid Wallace joining, Oku once again retreated to the second line in the playoffs. During his championship journey, he scored only 11 points in five finals, averaging less than 12 minutes per game. That ring is more like a souvenir of "hugging your thighs".

In the summer of 2004, due to salary space restrictions, the Pistons could not match Oku's offer. The Jazz took the opportunity to take action and poached it with a six-year, $50 million contract. In Utah, Oku became the main center behind Boozer and Kirilianko, and is also the most flexible part of the entire system. He has inside footsteps and can also shoot outside, which is exactly suitable for Sloan's offensive mode that emphasizes spacing and high-level screening.

In 2007, Oku was selected as the Western Conference All-Star with his stable output (substituting the injured Iverson and Nash), becoming the first Turkish All-Star player in NBA history. In 2009, he scored a career-high 43 points, demonstrating the center's rare scoring explosiveness.

Although he did not win the championship with the Jazz, as the team's main center in the playoffs for many years and has a ring that he bought early, Oku is undoubtedly one of the "non-superstars but the most successful" international players. From a low pick counterattack, an All-Star addition, to a championship glory in hand, this Turkish striker can be regarded as a model of the NBA's "winner in life".