Ömer Aşık

Ömer Aşık

Aşık with the Bulls
No. 3 – Chicago Bulls
Position	Center
Personal information
Born	(1986-07-04) July 4, 1986 Bursa, Turkey
Nationality	Turkish
Listed height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
NBA draft	2008: 2nd round, 36th overall pick
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Playing career	2005–present
Career history
2005–2006	Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
2006–2007	Alpella (Turkey)
2007–2010	Fenerbahçe Ülker (Turkey)
2010–present	Chicago Bulls
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Representing Turkey FIBA World Championship 2010 Turkey National team

Ömer Aşık (born July 4, 1986 in Bursa, Turkey) is a Turkish professional basketball player, currently playing for the NBA's Chicago Bulls. Aşık (pronounced "ah sheek"), standing at 7'0", was a sought after player by many of the top Euroleague basketball teams at the age of 19. Aşık got his first chance playing professionally with the Turkish basketball league team Fenerbahçe in 2005–06. Aşık moved around the Turkish league and eventually ended his Turkish club career with Fenerbahçe in 2008–2009. He gained recognition playing for the Turkish National Team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, and as the starting center, he helped Turkey win the silver medal. In July 2010, Aşık signed a contract to become a Chicago Bull. He has been nicknamed "The Turkish Hammer" and "Asik and Destroy" by Bulls color commentator Stacey King.

Turkish Basketball League

Ömer Aşık was first signed by Fenerbahce Ulker in 2005. He only played one game before being traded on loan for 2005-06 season to FMV Isık Spor Kulübü, in the 2nd division. Fenerbahce didn't have room on the roster for Aşık and needed his in-game development to continue. He signed for the 2006-07 season by Alpella Istanbul. He averaged 10.75 points and 11.25 rebounds over 40 games playing for Alpella. Leaving Alpella in December 2007, he resumed the season signing with Fenerbahçe for a second time. He was destined to be a superstar but in 2008 he tore his ACL and didn’t play for six months. When he returned, Aşık was creating havoc in the Turkey League but, he broke his collar-bone and didn't play for two months. After his recovery, Fenerbahçe tried to make him sign a new contract and held him out of the team until he signed. Aşık didn't give in and sat out the rest of the season. At Fenerbahce, Aşık averaged 7.8 points and 6.1 rebounds during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons. With the help of Aşık in the 2007-08 season, Fenerbahce won the Turkish National Championship. Ömer became a 2 time All-Star for Fenerbaçhe during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons.

Turkish National Team

Ömer Aşık first played on the national stage when he was appointed to Turkey's 2006 U20 European Championship Men's Division A team. Ömer played a supporting role averaging only 2 ppg and 2.6 rpg. The 2006 U20 Turkey team won the silver medal losing in the Championship to Serbia & Montenegro. In 2010 Aşık was a part of the National Turkey Men's Team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Aşık played a significant role for Turkey with 8.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg, helping the national team to the championship game against USA. Turkey fell to the US 81-64, achieving the silver medal. Aşık proved himself against some of the greatest world's players, even scoring 17 points in a landslide victory over China .

NBA

Ömer Aşık was drafted 36th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2008 NBA Draft and immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal. On July 13, 2010, Aşık was signed to a contract by the Chicago Bulls.

Rookie season training camp

ESPN's Nick Friedell asked the Chicago Bulls's Derrick Rose how much rookie center Ömer Aşık had improved since training camp started, he offered up a quick answer. "A lot," he said. "He's a guy [that's] real critical to our team. His age, he's young, he's active, playing hard. Him and Jo in the game together is crazy because they always get tips, loose balls, whatever. His offensive game is getting a lot better. He's shooting the ball a lot better from the free-throw line. He's getting a lot better as the preseason is going on."

2010-2011 season

On October 27, Aşık made his regular season debut for the Bulls in their first game of the season, a road game at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since the beginning of the season, Aşık has impressed observers by providing a much needed big man presence for the Bulls especially when starter Joakim Noah is not in the game. By the end of the regular season he was leading all rookies in rebounds per 48 minutes, and was among the top ten NBA players in rebound average per 48 minutes.

NBA career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2010–11	Chicago	82	0	12.1	.553	.000	.500	3.7	.4	.24	.68	2.8
Career		82	0	12.1	.553	.000	.500	3.7	.4	.24	.68	2.8