Sixers Notes: Aldemir adds rebounding punch for Sixers
Life is good again for Furkan Aldemir. The plantar fasciitis in his right foot that caused him to miss three games shortly after joining 76ers has subsided. Now he's adjusting nicely as a role-playing power forward.
Life is good again for Furkan Aldemir. The plantar fasciitis in his right foot that caused him to miss three games shortly after joining 76ers has subsided. Now he's adjusting nicely as a role-playing power forward.
The 6-foot-10 Aldemir was averaging 5.1 rebounds over seven games heading into the game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. He had a career-high 10 rebounds against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 5.
"In Europe, I was a good rebounder," said the native of Turkey, who did not attempt a shot against the Cavs. "They just asked me just to rebound. . . . I try to help my teammates like that."
Aldemir, 23, flew from Turkey to the Philadelphia on Dec. 14. He played the next night against the Boston Celtics, but he got hurt on Dec. 17.
Aldemir had to overcome the injury and adjust to the NBA game, a tough task considering that he hadn't played for two months.
"That's the reason I lost my shape," said Aldemir, who got out of his Turkish contract after Galatasaray Liv failed to pay him. "I lost my condition."
McCrae on roll
Jordan McRae is making the most of being stashed in the Australian National Basketball League.
McRae, whose NBA rights belong to the Sixers, is averaging a league-best 20.9 points in 18 games for the Melbourne United. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard was the 58th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs and traded to the Sixers during the NBA draft in June.
"I know his situation intimately," said Sixers coach Brett Brown, who once coached Melbourne. "We are always paying attention to Jordan. He's in a good situation. He's playing a lot of minutes and He's continuing to score."
McRae's season in Australia is coming to a close; the United have nine regular-season games left. So is he a candidate to join the Sixers once his season concludes?
"It's a fair question," Brown said. "We've talked about it."
Richardson update
Guard Jason Richardson said he hopes to participate in scrimmages by the end of the month. Richardson hasn't played since January 2013. He had left knee surgery and then suffered a stress fracture in his right foot.