Turkeyglue to stick around another year....

[Drbio]

Kings sign Turkoglu for 2003-04

Posted: Thursday September 12, 2002 5:14 PM
Updated: Thursday September 12, 2002 5:18 PM


SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The Sacramento Kings exercised their contract option on forward Hedo Turkoglu for the 2003-04 season on Thursday.

Turkoglu averaged 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 80 games last season as the Kings' second-leading scorer among reserves. He started eight playoff games while All-Star Peja Stojakovic was out with a sprained ankle.

The Kings are expected to increase both Turkoglu's playing time and his responsibilities during the upcoming season. He will play both forward and guard, team president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said.

Turkoglu was selected 16th overall in the 2000 draft, becoming the NBA's first Turkish-born player. He played for Turkey at the World Championships in Indianapolis earlier this month.

Much of his NBA salary is used to pay the European club team that signed Turkoglu to a lengthy contract when he was still a teenager.