Former NBA star Hidayet Turkoglu re-elected Turkish basketball body chief

By Erkan Tiryaki

ANKARA (AA) - Former NBA star forward Hidayet Turkoglu was re-elected president of the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) on Thursday.

"You chose us here again. I want to promise that we will work better in the next 3 years. I hope we will bring Turkish basketball to a better place together," Turkoglu told supporters after his win.

It will be his second stint at the head of the organization after winning 108 of 171 votes.

He was previously named president of the TBF in 2016.

Turkoglu beat Harun Erdenay, who received 42 votes and Erman Kunter, who garnered 21 votes.

Turkoglu, 42, began his career with Efes Pilsen, now Anadolu Efes, before joining the Sacramento Kings in 2000, becoming the first Turk to play in the NBA.

Popularly known as Hedo in NBA, Turkoglu later played for the San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers during a 15-year career in the US and Canada.

One of the regulars on the Turkish national team, he won silver medals at the 2001 European Championship (EuroBasket) and the 2010 FIBA World Championship, now called the FIBA World Cup, before retiring in 2015.

* Writing by Selcuk bugra Gokalp