Experienced Erden brings more than points and rebounds for Turkey in European Qualifiers

ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - It's always important to have a veteran or two in a national team.

Experience is a great teacher. The players that help their teammates celebrate when it's time and also let them know when it's important to keep their feet on the ground. They'll let them know that one loss is not the end of the world.

The veteran might have a loud voice in the changing room, or he might lead by example on the court.

That veteran presence for Turkey in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers has been 32-year-old Semih Erden, a giant center whose first World Cup was 12 years ago in Japan.

The sight of Erden taking out his anger on the rim is a common one when he plays for Turkey

In the Qualifiers, during which the Turks have gone from winning their first two games to a 2-2 record and now a 6-2 record, Erden has been a wise old head, someone that's been there, done that.

"I tell them what I have experienced," he said. "I have experienced many things and played with top players. I tell them what I learned and they have trust in me."

The 2.10m (6ft 11in) Erden has played for leading clubs in Europe and also suited up in the NBA. He's played alongside his country's most famous players. In 2006, among his Turkey teammates were Serkan Erdogan, Ibrahim Kutluay, Ersan Ilyasova and Ermal Kurtoglu.  In 2010, he was on the same team as Hedo Turkoglu, Omer Onan, Kerem Tunceri and Omer Asik. At FIBA EuroBasket 2017, Erden was a teammate of Turkey's latest stars, Cedi Osman and Furkan Korkmaz.

"I AM IN GOOD HEALTH RIGHT NOW. I FEEL GOOD MENTALLY AS WELL. I BELIEVE PEOPLE WILL SEE A BETTER SEMIH ERDEN IN THE NATIONAL TEAM. THIS PROCESS WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME. ALTHOUGH INJURIES HAVE DAMAGED ME BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, I BELIEVED FROM THE BEGINNING THAT I COULD OVERCOME THEM."- Erden

That team was loved by the Turkish public because despite being underdogs, it fought for 40 minutes. The same can be said about the current crop of Turkey players. There is a lot of talent, yet the squad does lack experience.

"They are doing their best," Erden said. "Of course, this is not just under my leadership. Our (coaching) staff also pays a lot attention to the team. I'm trying to fulfill my task of helping them by transferring my experience and helping them find solutions if they have a problem."

Erden knows all about problems, especially those of the black and blue kind. As a player in the low post, he is accustomed to taking a beating and with that has come a lot of injuries.

He was still working his way back from injuries while playing at last year's EuroBasket and wasn't at his best at times. He did have one huge performance, scoring 19 points in an 84-70 win over Great Britain.

Injuries kept him out of Turkey's last three games in the First Round of the Qualifiers but he returned for the Second Round wins over Montenegro (he had 16 points in that game) and Slovenia in September. He is currently playing for Istanbul BSB and will line up for Turkey when they host Spain in Ankara on November 29.

"I'm in good health right now," he said. "I feel good mentally as well. I believe people will see a better Semih Erden in the national team. This process was difficult for me. Although injuries have damaged me both physically and mentally, I believed from the beginning that I could overcome them."

The fact that Turkey's fans have been firmly behind the national team during the European Qualifiers has not been lost on him. He says the fans recognize that even if key players are missing, as Osman, Korkmaz and Ilyasova will be in the next window, the Turkey side that shows up will "never give up on the court and fights until the end of the game."

"A GENERATION CHANGE IN OUR TEAM IS OF COURSE HAPPENING. WE HAVE A NEW AND BEAUTIFUL GENERATION. I BELIEVE THAT THIS GENERATION WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND MAKE A MARK IN THE FUTURE. WE NEVER LOSE OUR FIGHTING SPIRIT."- Erden

"Our people want to see this," he said. "The Turkish people like us very much and will always be there to support us. This is also related to our performance."

As for the many new players that have been able to suit up for the team during last year's EuroBasket and the European Qualifiers that have been played, he said: "A generation change in our team is of course happening. We have a new and beautiful generation. I believe this generation will be successful and make a mark in the future. We never lose our fighting spirit."

FIBA