While growing up, Enes Kanter knew quite well when the Jazz usually tipped off at EnergySolutions Arena.
Kanter's hometown of Istanbul, Turkey is nine hours ahead. So Kanter used to set his alarm for the wee hours of the morning to watch Turkish center Mehmet Okur play on television for the Jazz in games that usually started at 7 p.m. Mountain Time.
"I was like, waking up at 4 in the morning, watching games, and then going back to sleep," Kanter said Friday at the NBA draft combine.
Much has changed since those days for Kanter, who turned 19 Friday. The big man is a top NBA draft prospect, and he could go as high as No. 3 to the Jazz.
Kanter wouldn't mind that at all. He grew up cheering for Okur. And even though the two never have met, Kanter said Okur sent him best wishes for the combine through a Jazz official.
"He talked to some of the guys on Utah and then (a Jazz official that Kanter wasn't able to recall by name) told me that Mehmet Okur said 'hi' and said 'good luck,"' Kanter said.
Kanter likely made Okur proud by playing well at the combine, which runs here Wednesday through Saturday. Kanter said he will have a workout in Utah sometime before the June 23 draft, when it will be seen if he becomes Okur's teammate.
"(Salt Lake City) is a great city and a great place to play, and (the Jazz has a) really good team," said the 6-foot-10 Kanter, who said his preferred position is power forward although he also plays center. "I followed them when I was in Turkey."
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