The Philadelphia 76ers have been criticized by some analysts for failing to land another superstar and improve the team in free agency, but the Sixers may just be trusting the process. In Philadelphia’s first game of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Friday, a 20-year-old, 6-foot-7 sharpshooter named Furkan Korkmaz announced his arrival with a spectacular 40-point game in a loss against the Celtics. . @sixers' Furkan Korkmaz lights up Summer League and hits 8 threes from deep 😱 pic.twitter.com/EXTrCNJLAx — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 7, 2018 Korkmaz was on fire from beyond the arc. He put up 40 points in 28 minutes, shooting 8-for-14 from three. Korkmaz, from Istanbul, Turkey, was selected with the 26th overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. He remained at his club team in Turkey, Anadolu Efes, and was later loaned to another Turkish team, Banvit. He’s played for the Turkish national team on multiple occasions – but his statistics in Europe have never been eye-popping. He spent the 2017-18 NBA season as a two-way player for the Sixers, spending most of his time on the floor for the Delaware 87ers in the G League. Korkmaz averaged 15.4 points per game – and was an abysmal 19.4 percent shooting from long range – in nine games. For the Sixers, Korkmaz saw limited action in 14 games, and shot 28 percent from the field on 28 total attempts. Korkmaz appears to be a completely different player in Vegas – and if he can keep up his production, he could become a valuable part of the Sixers’ rotation. Trust the process Furkan Korkmaz, selected 26th overall by the @sixers in 2016, scored 40 points and made 8 3-pointers in NBA Summer League action Friday He's the 1st player to score 40+ in the NBA Summer League since Anthony Morrow in 2009. pic.twitter.com/WNIUW8y768 — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 7, 2018 "Furkan Korkmaz ties Keith Bogans for the fifth most points in summer league history" is now my favorite NBA stat ever. — Mike O'Connor (@MOConnor_NBA) July 7, 2018 Unfortunate that the Sixers have yet to find a fourth star to join Embiid-Simmons-Korkmaz. — Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) July 7, 2018 Korkmaz is definitely too good for summer league. Potentially too good for the NBA — Anthony Capelli (@Anthony_Capelli) July 7, 2018 Korkmaz has put the league on notice pic.twitter.com/ro0olr7NoY — VoteTheProcess.com (@VoteTheProcess) July 7, 2018 The Furkan Korkmaz MVP campaign starts now — Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) July 7, 2018<doc-sep>If there was a way to succinctly sum up Sixers’ wing Furkan Korkmaz’s 40-point night against the Boston Celtics Friday, you could pick your favorite adjective. Korkmaz’s shooting performance was captivating, mesmerizing, rare, spectacular, he appeared to be playing on another level than his opponents and peers. Typically, the first Summer League game is a dumpster fire in which offensive rust’s prevalence waters down your expectations. Korkmaz provided 23 points for Turkey against Sweden three days earlier so maybe it was a precursor for more seismic offensive performances. Friday, despite a 95-89 loss, Korkmaz had the hot hand through all four quarters, shooting 10-for-18 (55.6 percent) from the floor and 8-for-14 (57.1 percent) from deep. He also tallied six rebounds and two assists. When assistant coach Kevin Young sought a primary scorer, Korkmaz emerged as an early candidate to handle the offensive toll. Korkmaz could utilize Summer League as a vehicle for additional offensive confidence and comfortability scoring off the dribble. It’s the perfect landscape for a scorer like him to grow. Korkmaz’s scoring variety also stood out and we’re going to dissect his progression throughout the game and how he utilized space and preparation to his advantage. Through Streamable I was able to chart each of Korkmaz’s shots on the night and the sharpshooter really impressed during his first Summer League game. The 20-year-old wing’s minutes last year primarily came in garbage time so Sixers fans couldn’t effectively evaluate Korkmaz in game settings. Last night, his comfortability level popped when watching him live. Within the first minutes of the game, Korkmaz meets a detour of possibilities in transition. He can swing to Chris McCullough, attack the basket, find a lane filler or take the pull-up jumper. Korkmaz opts for the pull-up three and with his weight moving towards the basket, he gathers himself into an open three to beat the closeout. He uses his right foot to plant and sets himself up for a high-percentage jumper in transition that he drills. Korkmaz holds his follow-through and his quality motion, form and release allows the ball to ascend the defender and drop within the cylinder. On the subsequent possession, Korkmaz enters a scenario where he’s assuming the ball handler role. He doesn’t panic and defer, but instead initiates eye contact with McCullough to throw off his man and finds a crease in the Celtics’ defense to unabatedly hoist. Korkmaz gathers himself in a timely fashion, avoiding resistance from a closeout, and sinks another three to push the Sixers’ lead to six early in the first quarter. Inference suggests that Korkmaz now has some level of comfortability and offensive ease, already seeing his first two shots fall through. Fast-forward to his third first-quarter three and Demetrius Jackson’s dribble penetration forces a help collapse. Jackson didn’t have a spectacular offensive outing, but his acceleration here freed up some real estate for a dish to Korkmaz in the corner. Jackson’s chest pass arrives and Korkmaz’s prep work, with his feet plus body placement, already have him in prime position to nail another three. Once he receives the outlet pass, Korkmaz relies on a quick dip for rhythm and hoists before the defender can commit. It’s nothing but nylon for the 6’7”, 185-pound wing. That concluded Korkmaz’s nine-point first quarter and as Philly.com’s Keith Pompey mentioned, Boston capitalized with Korkmaz on the bench and Philadelphia’s offense fizzled. The Sixers have been outscored 12-2 since Furkan left the game. — Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) July 7, 2018 Korkmaz and 2017 Summer Sixer Isaiah Miles were the only Sixers to reach double digits in the points column. Philadelphia shot just 28-for-76 (36.8 percent) and if you remove Korkmaz’s performance, the team went a collective 18-for-58 (31.0 percent). Korkmaz’s shooting kept the Sixers at arm’s length throughout. Let’s jump to early in the second quarter. Korkmaz receives a swing pass and Jonah Bolden’s mountain-moving strength takes Guerschon Yabusele out of the play while aiding Korkmaz’s space. Korkmaz’s man sags heavily and the Turkish wing wastes zero time in firing from near-straightaway while drawing a potential four-point play after the made three. Korkmaz would convert from the line, giving Philadelphia a 27-26 lead. Korkmaz’s first two-point basket originated as a possible three-point attempt, but he thwarts the closeout with a pump-fake and floats in a shot for two. Korkmaz’s footwork allows him to bypass Semi Ojeleye but it’s relatively choppy. His deft touch helps him sink the floater, although Korkmaz’s agility leaves a lot to be desired. At just 20, however, time is on his side to physically morph into his peak shape so I’m really just nitpicking his athleticism on this particular shot. Last year during the 2017 EuroBasket Tournament, Korkmaz displayed a similar knack for converting floaters following closeouts. Putting the ball on the floor will weaponize his offensive approach and he’s very adept at keeping it towards his body. Early in the second half, Korkmaz retained his scalding shooting. With Boston’s defense unaware of Korkmaz’s location, Jackson alertly kicks out to the sharpshooter. Korkmaz relies on a quick dip and gets his ideal shot off with Semi Ojeleye ball-watching. Korkmaz’s high release point scales Ojeleye’s long arms and, again, it’s a swish with perfect arc from the second-year wing. Korkmaz alerts guard Devondrick Walker for an outlet and receives the ball with the defense cluttered in the paint. Boston’s transition defense loses focus and fails to locate Korkmaz along the baseline. Korkmaz catches the swing pass and releases when open to sink the rhythm three. I could envision Korkmaz and Simmons pairing for a similar above-the-break type of swing pass for a Korkmaz three. Simmons’ incredible vision and Korkmaz’s quick gather and release is a potent combination. Now, we’ve reached iso Korkmaz and this sequence below was arguably Friday night’s marquee highlight. Reminiscent of Fultz’s “hesi-stepback jimbo” from last year’s Summer League, Korkmaz performs his own hesi-stepback jimbo after a beautiful dribbling sequence to create space. Korkmaz creating his own shot really was one of the night’s standout moments and fostered optimism that he can score off the dribble. Calculatingly, he creates separation from his dribble and jab-step to line up with the basket and attempt an open jumper designed by solely himself. Sixers fans have harped on last year’s lack of offensive creators against Boston. If Korkmaz can score in isolation and utilize his handles for a quality look, then Brett Brown’s lineups will run smoother. On his penultimate three-point make of the night, Korkmaz can’t glide to the basket but has the crossover handle move in his arsenal to pull off a three over length. Playing against a Celtics rotational player in Ojeleye during Summer League is a boon for Korkmaz’s confidence because it simulates a regular season matchup between the two. Both players should have greater roles in their second years and Korkmaz wins the one-on-one battle despite solid lateral quicks by Ojeleye. The crowd’s now teetering on absolute pandemonium after every Korkmaz jumper, and to have a sizable backing in his 2018 Summer League debut created this main draw appeal for the Sixer. Last Summer League, Markelle Fultz wowed the Utah fans with his smooth scoring ability and offensive talent. Korkmaz left an impression on the Las Vegas fans at the Thomas and Mack Center. He’s capable of leveraging a hot start into a memorable shooting performance and Brett Brown, a spectator during last night’s game, had to be giddy when Korkmaz went for 40. Korkmaz’s final make also came from an isolation opportunity. He beat his defender off the dribble and with a feathery touch, Korkmaz converted a buttery finger roll at the basket to punctuate a 40-point night. Does he still need to develop some line-drive agility? Sure, but he’s capable of attacking when needed and finishing at the rim. Korkmaz also went 12-for-15 (80 percent) from the free throw line and with a clip of 55.6/57.1/80.0, Korkmaz toasted Boston’s defense like they were marshmallows roasting over a summer fire. Per ESPN, Korkmaz recorded the fifth-highest scoring performance in Summer League history. Korkmaz is the 5th player to score 40 in an NBA Summer League game Most Points in a Game - Summer League History<doc-sep>The Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics tonight by a score of 95-89. The final score doesn’t seem terribly consequential, as the only thing that really matters is Furkan Korkmaz. Korkmaz played like a man possessed tonight, finishing with 40 points, and becoming the first player to score 40 or more points in a Summer League game since 2009. He made eight of his fourteen attempted 3-pointers, the same amount as the entire Celtics’ roster. He also contributed six rebounds, two assists and one steal in almost 29 minutes of play. The Celtics attempted to foul in order to prevent his flaming hot shot from going in, sending him to the line for 15 free throws, 12 of which he made. The bench, crowd, and Sixers’ players in attendance (Markelle Fultz and Amir Johnson) were fully behind Korkmaz, audibly intaking their breath every time he launched the ball from beyond the arc. Many times, their support was rewarded with a ball swishing through the net. You like Furkan buckets, and the bench does too. : @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/nFso46xcV5 — Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 7, 2018 Other Notes: Isaiah Miles was the only other Sixer to score in double figures tonight with 11 points. He also notched eight rebounds on the night by being aggressive on the boards. He could be found under the basket on almost every shot, waiting to fight for any rebound that came his way. Jonah Bolden, who did not play in this game per the NBA’s box score, did in fact score six points in 23 minutes of action. He also contributed six rebounds and one block (see below). First round selection Zhaire Smith had a slow night offensively, only scoring 7 points and shooting 3/7 from the floor. However, he looked good on defense and showed his high basketball IQ with his movement and cutting ability on offense. Landry Shamet left the game in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return. In his 12 minutes of play he scored six points on two made 3-pointers. Is it really a Sixers’ Summer League without an injury? The Celtics were lead by Semi Ojeleye and Guerschon Yabusele who both scored 16 points. Their first round selection in this year’s draft, Robert Williams III, left the game with a knee contusion in the first half and did not return.<doc-sep>
Snapshot: It was Furkan Korkmaz’s world, and it was blowing Las Vegas’ mind. His first basket came 60 seconds into the 76ers’ MGM Resorts Summer League opener, and he didn’t stop scoring until the final buzzer essentially put an end to his historic night. Korkmaz’s 40-point outburst in the Sixers’ 95-89 loss to the Boston Celtics was a performance of epic July proportions, to be sure. The total was the third-highest ever in a Vegas summer league game, and was only seven shy of the event’s single-game record, set by Anthony Morrow in 2009. So captivating was Korkmaz’s showing at Thomas & Mack Center that the crowd began to murmur more and more with each passing deposit. By the time Friday’s competitive match-up reached the fourth quarter, his touches in the halfcourt were cause for audible anticipation - the crowd stirring as part of an all out summer league clamor. The stands then proceeded to erupt in admiration whenever the 2016 first-rounder’s shots went down, which was more often than not. This triple late in Friday’s fourth quarter might have been his best shot of the evening: You like Furkan buckets, and the bench does too. : @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/nFso46xcV5 — Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 7, 2018 Fresh off a two-game stint in last weekend’s FIBA World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers that saw him combine for 44 points behind a 7 for 9 3-point effort, Korkmaz didn’t miss a beat back on American soil. He nailed 10 of 18 shots Friday, including 8 of his 14 3-point attempts, while going 12 of 15 from the line. The soon-to-be 21-year old also showed up defensively, using his length to get into passing lanes. He contributed on the glass as well, with six rebounds. If one of the Sixers’ goals for the summer was to return from Las Vegas encouraged by the state of Korkmaz’s game, Friday was indeed the time. Standout Showing(s): Think we pretty much covered Friday’s standout Sixer in the section above. So, for this edition of the Summer League Six Pack, we’ll instead use this space to fill you in on how the team’s 2018 first-rounders fared in their respective summer league debuts. Zhaire Smith, the no. 16 pick acquired from the Phoenix Suns in a draft night trade, started, and finished with seven points (3-7 fg, 0-1 3fg, 1-1 ft), two rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Here’s a look back at his first bucket, the result of a really nice cut. As for who set Smith up for that really nice second-quarter cut, it was Landry Shamet, selected no. 16 overall by the Sixers. In 12 minutes of action off the bench, the Wichita State product played mostly on the ball, and sunk a pair of threes. A right ankle sprain in the second quarter cut Shamet’s night short. Sixers Social: Seasoned Sixers, still-relatively-new Sixers, it was nice to see a few familiar faces in the building Friday. Quote of Note: “First of all, I want to talk about the team effort. Everybody fought tonight, but we lost the game. If you win the game, I would like to talk more about my individual performance. Individually, I feel confidence on the court. I’ve got more experience than last year, and I’m really happy to show [it].” - Furkan Korkmaz. From the Other Side: In picking up Friday’s win, Boston was successful scoring on the run, and on the inside. The Celtics outdid the Sixers 19-8 on fastbreak points, and 48-20 on points in the paint. 2016 first-round selection Guerschon Yabusele (16 pts, 7 reb) stepped up late. With under two minutes to go, the big man powered home a dunk, then hit a crucial triple after the C’s got a stop. The sequence stretched Boston’s lead from one point to six, and essentially sealed the Sixers’ fate. On Tap: Primetime games involving the Los Angeles Lakers the first weekend of Vegas summer league are usually among the top-drawing events of the whole tournament, and this year certainly figures to be no different, especially in light of the Purple and Gold’s recent free agency activity. Instead of cheering on no. 23 and his new uniform, though, Lakers fans will be rooting for a summer league team led by Villanova’s Josh Hart, and Michigan’s Mo Wagner. Following Saturday’s 11:30 PM EST tilt, the Sixers will be idle Sunday.