User:Ktroka2/Article OmerAsik

Omer Asik (born July 4, 1986 in Bursa, Turkey) is a Turkish professional basketball player, currently playing for the NBA's Chicago Bulls. Asik, standing at a towering 7'0", was a sought after by many of the top Euro-league basketball teams at the age of 19. Asik got his first chance playing professionally with the Turkish basketball league giant Fenerbahçe in 2005-06.  Omer moved around the Turkish league and eventually ended his Turkish club career with Fenerbahçe in 2008-2009.  He gained notoriety playing for the Turkish National Basketball Team in the 2010 FIBA World Championships.  As the starting center, he helped Turkey achieve the silver medal.  In July of 2010, Aşık signed a contract to become an official Chicago Bull.

Turkish Basketball League
Omer Asik was first signed by Fenerbahce Ulkerin 2005. He only played one game before being traded on loan for 2005-06 season to FMV Isık Spor Kulübü, in the 2nd division. Fenerbahce didn't have room on the roster for Asik and needed his in-game development to continue. He signed for the 2006-07 season by Alpella Istanbul. He averaged 10.75 points and 11.25 rebounds over 40 games playing for Alpella. Leaving Alpella in December 2007, he resumed the season signing with Fenerbahce for a second time. He was destined to be a superstar but in 2008 he tore his ACL and didn’t play for six months. When he returned, Asik was creating havoc in the Turkey League but, he broke his collar-bone and didn't play for two months. After his recovery, Fenerbahçe tried to make him sign a new contract and held him out of the team until he signed. Aşık didn't give in and sat out the rest of the season. At Fenerbahce, Asik averaged 7.8 points and 6.1 rebounds during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons. With the help of Asik in the 2007-08 season, Fenerbahce won the Turkish National Championship. Omer became a 2 time All-Star for Fenerbache during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons.

Turkish National Team
Omer Asik first played on the national stage when he was appointed to Turkey's 2006 U20 European Championship Men's Division A team. Omer played a supporting role averaging only 2 ppg and 2.6 rpg. The 2006 U20 Turkey team won the silver medal losing in the Championship to Serbia & Montenegro. In 2010 Asik was called up to the National Turkey Men's Team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Asik played a prominent role for Turkey with 8.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg, leading the national team to the championship game against USA. Turkey fell to the US 81-64, achieving the silver medal. Asik proved himself against some of the greatest world's players, even scoring 17 points in a landslide victory over China.

NBA
Ömer Aşık was drafted 36th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2008 NBA Draft and immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal. On July 13, 2010, Aşık was signed to a contract by the Chicago Bulls.

ESPN's Nick Friedell asked The Chicago Bulls's Derrick Rose how much rookie center Omer Asik had improved since training camp started, he offered up a quick answer. "A lot," he said. "He's a guy [that's] real critical to our team. His age, he's young, he's active, playing hard. Him and Jo in the game together is crazy because they always get tips, loose balls, whatever. His offensive game is getting a lot better. He's shooting the ball a lot better from the free-throw line. He's getting a lot better as the preseason is going on."

On October 27, Aşık made his regular season debut for the Bulls in their first game of the season, a road game at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since the beginning of the season, Asik has provided a much need big man presence for the Bulls when Joakim Noah is resting. With forward Carlos Boozer injured, Asik averaged 13.9 hours on the court during October for the Bulls. For the remainder of the season Asik will continue to play a supporting role off the bench as long as the team stays healthy.

Regular season as of 12/11/2010

 * align="left" | 2010–11
 * align="left" | Chicago
 * 20 || 0 || 11.8 || .540 || .000 || .515 || 3.0 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 0.6 || 2.8
 * 20 || 0 || 11.8 || .540 || .000 || .515 || 3.0 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 0.6 || 2.8