The shocking reason for Furkan Korkmaz’s struggles 2021-22 is revealed

The unfortunate truth for rotating players about the NBA is that they have to prove they can hold their own at the NBA level every night. While more proven players often get the “out of the night” cross pass, this isn’t a luxury that all NBA players get. This was the case with Ferkan Korkmaz in the 2021-22 season. The Turkish sniper struggled to connect in long-range shots during the year and was knocked out of the Sixers tournament as a result. Korkmaz will enter the final year of his contract this season and is sure to have a lot to prove. However, the 25-year-old revealed one surprising reason for his struggles when he spoke with reporters during Sixers media day.

When he was discussing his shooting issues last season, Korkmaz open “I’ve had minor nerve damage since my All-Star break last year.” The five-year-old veteran says he lost some sensation in his fingers and changed his shot. He said he underwent a rehab process for about two months this summer as he had the opportunity to fully address the problem.

Korkmaz struggle 2021-22

There were high hopes for Korkmaz as the 2021-22 season approached. He signed a two-year extension with the Sixers pre-season as his rookie deal expired and he was expected to contribute to his bench minutes. Unfortunately, Korkmaz launched a low rally 28.9% on the three points He also saw his points per game drop from the previous season.

His explanation about nerve problems makes sense based on the drop in Korkmaz’s shooting rate. After breaking all the stars, just shoot 23.7% on the three points And only 66.7% at the free throw line.

These are numbers uncharacteristic of a player with a career with 35.5% from three points and a shot of 40.2% from depth during the 2019-20 season. nerve damage It is certainly something that will affect the shooting touch and the numbers support Korkmaz’s unfortunate claim.

What after Korkmaz?

While there are reasons to be optimistic about a recovery season after his recovery, it is unclear what kind of opportunity Korkmaz will see this season. The additions of De’Anthony Melton, Danuel House and PJ Tucker could all play a part in cutting the minutes he once had. There is also quite a bit of hype surrounding Matisse Thybulle after an off-season period as he worked to improve his shooting form.

However, there is no such thing as too much shooting and if Korkmaz can connect to a reliable rate, there will definitely be a role for it. He is set to be a free agent at the end of the season and will look to cement his role in the NBA going forward. Look for him to come up with a new focus this season and prove he’s worth it.

Sixers’ head of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, also joked that Korkmaz has worked to improve his toughness this season. While playing for Turkey in the Europa League this summer, Korkmaz was too Several players attacked him From Jordan after he was expelled because of the quarrel in court. Fortunately, Korkmaz survived the melee in full health. His focus has now shifted toward making a statement with his play during the Sixers’ 2022-23 season.