Hedo Turkoglu, the first player born in Turkey ever to play in the NBA, officially announced his retirement on Friday, capping a 15-year career during which he became one of the game's top frontcourt playmakers.

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Turkoglu logged 997 career NBA games after being drafted with the 16th overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, and played a reserve role off the bench for Doc Rivers' Los Angeles Clippers over the past two seasons before entering free agency. He'd reportedly hoped to get over the 1,000-game mark, which only 115 players in NBA history have reached, but evidently found no suitors. He will assume an as-yet-unannounced role with the Turkish Basketball Federation, according to CNN Turkey.

“I am very thankful and grateful for the opportunity to live out my dream and play in the NBA,” the 36-year-old Turkoglu said in a statement released by the Magic, with whom he spent parts of eight seasons. “I will always remember my teammates, coaches, staff members and all of the fans who made my career so wonderful for myself and my family.”

Today I'm officially announcing my retirement from pro basketball. — Hidayet Türkoğlu (@hidoturkoglu15) November 13, 2015

It's been a great 15 years. But a time does come when you have to walk away, and the time is now for me. — Hidayet Türkoğlu (@hidoturkoglu15) November 13, 2015

I like to thank the NBA, coaches, all my teammates in Sacramento, San Antonio, Orlando, Toronto, Phoenix and LA. — Hidayet Türkoğlu (@hidoturkoglu15) November 13, 2015

Especially fans for their continuous support and for making me feel at home. — Hidayet Türkoğlu (@hidoturkoglu15) November 13, 2015

After beginning his career as a reserve swingman for Rick Adelman's running/gunning/passing/glorious early-2000s Kings, Turkoglu was shipped to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal, playing a rotation role on a 57-win club that bowed out in the Western Conference semifinals. He signed a six-year, $39 million offer sheet with Orlando in restricted free agency in the summer of 2004, and would play well on the wing for coaches Johnny Davis, Chris Jent and Brian Hill.

It was the arrival of Stan Van Gundy in the 2007-08 season, though, that unlocked Turkoglu's full value. He was a canny enough reader of defenses and a willing enough passer to work as a point forward capable of running the offense. At 6-foot-10, his size created mismatches against opposing small forwards; his craftiness off the dribble made him a tough cover in space for opposing fours. His ball-moving and knockdown 3-point shooting helped create space on the interior for young bull Dwight Howard. Van Gundy recognized all that, and put it to use.

Unleashed and emboldened, Turkoglu averaged 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and five assists in 36.9 minutes per game that season. He earned recognition as the NBA's Most Improved Player on a surprising 52-win team. The following year, he'd team with Howard and Rashard Lewis to lead Orlando to the NBA Finals, where they'd lose in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Turkgolu ranks in the top 10 in Magic franchise history in a slew of statistical categories, including games and minutes played, made field goals, 3-pointers and free throws, points, rebounds, assists and steals. He recently attended the Magic's home opener against the Washington Wizards, reportedly receiving "a warm ovation" when he appeared on the Jumbotron. On Friday, Zach Oliver of Orlando Pinstriped Post called him the "best small forward in [franchise] history," and while Our Fearless Leader didn't put him on the All-Time Starting Five this summer, there's no arguing what he accomplished in a Magic uniform.

The Magic plan to honor Turkoglu during a special ceremony on Friday, Dec. 18, when Orlando hosts the Portland Trail Blazers at Amway Center. There is, of course, a bit of irony in Turkoglu's career being celebrated during a game against the Blazers.

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When the 2009 free agency period opened, a Blazers squad chock full of young talent — Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw, all 25 or younger — looked at the 30-year-old Turkoglu as the sort of floor-spacing, pick-and-roll-running, versatile and playoff-experienced frontcourt veteran who could push Portland from up-and-comer to contender. He'd agreed to terms on a five-year, $50 million deal with the Blazers ... only to back out of his commitment and sign a five-year, $53 million contract with the Toronto Raptors, a reneging that reportedly had to do with Hedo's wife preferring Toronto, "a far more European-style city," to Portland.