TUR - Kerem Gönlüm, the unsung hero

ISTANBUL (2010 FIBA World Championship) - For the millions of ball fans living in Turkey and those true connisseurs of Euroleague basketball, Kerem Gönlüm needs little introduction.

However for those outside of that bracket who only know the likes of Turkoglu, Okur and Ilyasova from the Turkey National team, the message is simple - overlook this vastly underrated forward at your peril.

Having played all his career in his own country with only the occassional midweek jaunt overseas during Euroleague, Gönlüm has remained pretty much under the radar and is arguably one of the best kept secrets out there.

True, that may seem a little ludicrous to some of you 'in the know', but if you ask about Gönlüm elsewhere in Europe, you are likely to be met by a blank expression and shrug of the shoulders or maybe occassionally, a smile and approving nod of the head from someone who really does know their stuff.

Rather fittingly, the Efes Pilsen man hails from Eskisehir, a place also not so well known outside of Turkey but in spite of all of this, Kerem Gönlüm could be about to put both himself and his country firmly on the map by the time EuroBasket 2009 in Poland has ended.

Having enjoyed another season packed full of impressive performances both in Euroleague and the TBL, he is a player that just keeps getting better with age. During a perfect qualifying round for the National Team, he averaged almost 11 points and over 7 rebounds per game in 25 minutes, smartly operating both in the shadow of and also in tandem with Ilyasova.

Having also lighted it up for Efes in Euroleague, it seemed like the perfect time to catch up with someone ready to show there is more to the Turkish National team than merely those that have tasted NBA action.

FIBA Europe: Hi Kerem, congratulations on another impressive season. You seem to keep getting better with age and adding new dimensions to your game. Has this been your best season yet as an individual player?

Kerem Gönlüm: Thank you very much. Every year I am improving my basketball. I am working very hard. This year especially, our coach Ergin Ataman's trust in me has helped me to have a good season for my career. I can say that this is the best season I have ever had in my life!

FIBA Europe: Do you wish you had got into basketball sooner as a kid and got that extra coaching or do you think starting much later and learning as a professional has kept your passion for the game and willingness to learn even more. It looks like you are making up for lost time and enjoying it?

Kerem Gönlüm: If I have started earlier and had the chance to be coached more than I have been, I would be a different player. As I said, I am working very hard to improve my basketball.

FIBA Europe: When you get to Poland , you will be ready to play in your fourth EuroBasket tournament with the National Team. Tell us your memories and feelings as a player and team looking back at the first three European championships.

Kerem Gönlüm: Indeed the first three championships did not leave good memories for me. They were not the ones that we were succesful enough. I wish that in Poland, both individually and as a team, we are going have a good tournament. Also we showed that we can do this during the qualification games.

FIBA Europe: When people talk about the Turkey National Team there is always talk of the surprise performance at the 2006 FIBA World Championships because some of the biggest stars were missing and this is compared to disappointments at other tournaments when the star names were playing. You played in all of those teams and saw both sides of this coin. Was it down to chemistry or just one of those things that is difficult to explain?

Kerem Gönlüm: The 2006 World Championships were really excellent. As a team we fought very well. Maybe we did not have so many stars but every player in the team played with his heart and we grabbed the 6th place. The important thing is to fight and to play with your heart in the National team.

FIBA Europe: The balance of the team seems quite good now and you played well together in the qualifying round last year. What will be important for the team and for you as an individual player between now and the tournament tip-off?

Kerem Gönlüm: Now there are still four or five more months. It is difficult to predict how the National team players will come together for the tournament but in Poland everybody will see a Turkish National Team fighting as we did in those qualification games.

FIBA Europe: Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania. What do you know about those teams and how do you feel about your qualifying group?

Kerem Gönlüm: It is a difficult group in my point of view. As everybody knows, Lithuania is a big team. Poland has the advantage of the home court. Bulgaria maybe does not have stars but has a deep team spirit. Difficult games are definately waiting for us...

FIBA Europe: At Efes Pilsen you have been on an incredible run in the Turkish league but couldn't make the club's Euroleague dreams come true. What went wrong this season in Europe because you started pretty well!

Kerem Gönlüm: At the beginning of this season as with every year, a team is established with a goal to play in the Final Four. We had the disadvantage of being a new team. We were a very good team consisting of 12 very good players but the adaptation period lasted a little bit too long and consequently we could not achieve our aim in Euroleague.

FIBA Europe: You have played for some famous clubs but not outside of your own country. Do you think that you might look back at the end of your career and wish you had experienced playing for a big team in another country in Euroleague?

Kerem Gönlüm: I am playing at Efes Pilsen for four years. Previously I played for different teams but I am very happy here. My contract is ending at the end of this season. I do not know how the conditions that will be formed but I am very happy to be here because I have improved my basketball at Efes Pilsen.

FIBA Europe: When we spoke to Hedo Turkoglu earlier this year we talked about Turkey hosting the FIBA World Championships. Of course he is on the other side of the Atlantic so as a player who is based in Turkey maybe experiencing this every day, tell us your feelings about what the tournament means to you and everyone in Turkish basketball. I guess that this will be an important 18 months for everyone involved?

Kerem Gönlüm: Indeed, Turkey has been preparing for this tournament for 4-5 years. It is a very important championship with very important basketball countries and players who will all come to our country. For myself, it will be very interesting and makes me excited. We are all waiting for this Championship.

FIBA Europe: Finally Kerem, can you give advice to any guys out there who think because of their age it is too late to get a break and make it into this game we all love. You are proof that even if you start late you can reach the top of your profession and play for your country.

Kerem Gönlüm: Thank you very much again. You can learn anything at any age. Only let us not lose our hopes and realise them if we work hard enough. Young players should think of it like this. They must believe that they can succeed. This is often enough. 

By Paul Nilsen
FIBA Europe