National Basketball Association

Utah Jazz: Mehmet Okur Joining Suns as Player Development Coach

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Former Utah Jazz star Mehmet Okur is set to join Earl Watson’s coaching staff with the Phoenix Suns.

Just last month, Mehmet Okur was snapped working out with Utah Jazz big man Derrick Favors. The team’s starting power forward has been honing his jump shot and working on expanding his shooting range and no Jazz frontcourt player has ever been as effective at ripping the nets as Okur.

Favors has never attempted more than six three-pointers in a single season. After picking the brain of the “Money Man” this summer, he may just be able to complement his burgeoning mid-range game with a corner three.

Fast-forward to now and the young big men on the Phoenix Suns — players like 2016 draftees Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, as well as Alex Len — are about to benefit from that same tutelage.

The Suns announced on Tuesday that Okur will be joining the coaching staff of his former Jazz teammate Earl Watson as a player development coach in Phoenix. According to the release, Okur will specialize in the skills development of the Suns’ post players.

Jason Hervey will also join the Suns as an advance scout.

As players, Watson and Okur shared the court together for Utah during the 2010-11 season. Okur will also be reuniting with the duo’s former head coach, Tyrone Corbin, who is on the Suns staff as an assistant.

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The 37-year-old Okur had been with the Jazz for the last two years as a team ambassador, following his retirement in 2012. He played seven seasons with the Jazz from 2014 to 2011, averaging 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and hitting 38 percent of his three-point attempts. He was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team in 2007.

As an Okur fan myself, I can say that nobody is more deserving or better suited for the job. However, the Jazz legend will be sorely missed by the Utah faithful. Few players have captured Jazz fans’ imaginations like Okur.

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