Omer Yurtseven

BIOGRAPHY

Ömer Faruk Yurtseven was born on June 19, 1998, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to Turkish parents. His journey to becoming a professional basketball player saw him scale great heights both physically and professionally. With a height of 6 feet 11 inches and a weight of 275 pounds, Yurtseven displays enormous strength and prowess on the basketball court. Best known for his center position in the game, he currently plays for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Before his NBA days, Yurtseven started his basketball journey in Turkey, representing the Turkish youth national team. His prowess and skill in the game did not go unnoticed, as he was selected for the Best Five at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. His performance also won him an invitation to the esteemed Jordan Brand Classic International Game. On March 20, 2015, Yurtseven made his EuroLeague debut against Emporio Armani Milano, where he scored 2 points within a minute and few seconds.

Yurtseven made history as the youngest player to participate in an NBA preseason game at only 17 years old, playing against Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in 2015. In this game, he delivered a solid performance with 8 points, 7 rebounds, and a block within 15 minutes and 18 seconds, earning his team a victory against the Nets. Equally notable is his outstanding record at an under-18 competition in Turkey, where he snatched 91 points and collected 28 rebounds contributing to a triumphant 115–82 win over the Eylul Basketbol Ihtisas youth club.

Wanting more playing time, Yurtseven left Fenerbahçe, a Turkish professional basketball team, in February 2016. A few months later, Yurtseven announced his decision to play for North Carolina State University. However, his prior professional exposure led to a nine-game suspension and a mandatory charitable contribution required by the NCAA for him to be eligible for play. After the suspension, Yurtseven returned to the court, remaining at North Carolina State, improving his game performance significantly.

Following two years at NC State, Yurtseven transferred to play for Georgetown Hoyas in the 2019–20 season. His Georgetown debut saw him scoring 20 points, paving the way for an 81–68 win over Mount St. Mary’s. Despite an ankle injury causing him to miss seven games, he maintained an impressive average of 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during his stint at Georgetown.

After forgoing his final college season, Yurtseven entered the 2020 NBA draft. Though undrafted, he signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, he was waived the next day. In January 2021, Yurtseven was included in the Oklahoma City Blue’s roster, an affiliate of the Thunder in the NBA G League.

In May 2021, a significant career leap came as he signed with the Miami Heat. He joined the Heat for the NBA Summer League and later re-signed with the team. His unmatched performance against the Orlando Magic in December saw him score 16 points and grab 15 rebounds, making his first career start memorable. However, his progress was briefly impeded due to a surgery he underwent. Despite this setback, Yurtseven played in the 2023 NBA Finals, making the Heat the second #8 seed in NBA history to reach that far, albeit losing to the Denver Nuggets.

In July 2023, Yurtseven inked a deal with the Utah Jazz, marking another major move in his NBA career. Throughout his career, Yurtseven represented Turkey’s junior national teams at various FIBA Europe Championships bringing home a silver and bronze medal.

Off the court, Yurtseven displays a keen interest in chess, counting world chess champion Magnus Carlsen among his favorites. His journey serves as an inspiration to many, reflecting a strong conviction and unwavering dedication to the sport of basketball.