The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Could Furkan Korkmaz become as dangerous as Andrew Toney?

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
5 of 5
BOSTON – 1985: Andrew Toney #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers moves the ball up court against Quinn Buckner #28 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1985 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1985 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1985: Andrew Toney #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers moves the ball up court against Quinn Buckner #28 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1985 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1985 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)

Toney vs. Kormaz

The arrival of Furkan Korkmaz triggered an almost autonomic comparison to former Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Andrew Toney. It’s not fair to either Toney nor to Korkmaz. Still, there are similarities in their game and position which afford an opportunity to compare the two. And the opportunity to get a discussion going with Toney is always worthwhile.  Andrew Toney was a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who became a key member of the Philadelphia 76ers championship team.  Paired up with Maurice Cheeks, the duo were a solid backcourt.

Toney did not start a game in his first season, but he saw an average of 23.6 minutes in 75 games. He would eventually become the legendary “Boston Strangler”, thanks to his incredible performances at the Boston Garden. He played just eight seasons in the NBA. Those seasons were thrilling for Sixers fans and nightmarish for Celtics fans. Over his career, Toney shot 50 percent from the floor, averaged 15.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and  4.2 assists over 26.9 minutes per game.  But his career was halted prematurely, due to undetected stress fractures in his feet.  Foot fractures which had already benched Furkan Korkmaz this season.

Next: Report: LeBron James has Sixers on his free agency short list

Furkan Future

Furkan Korkmaz can score. There is no doubt in my mind he will achieve double digit scoring offensively. The question is when will this team have enough time to allow him that opportunity? The 2018 off-season will prove to be very telling. If the team has questions about Markelle Fultz and or Furkan Korkmaz, you can expect them to lock in J.J. Redick and perhaps even Marco Belinelli for next season. If the Philadelphia 76ers feel good about both players, you could see this next season?

Now, there is a huge difference between unchallenged shooting on the court and contested shots. But Furkan Kormaz, similar to Andrew Toney, plays shooting guard and flashed a bit of brilliance at Boston Garden in a pre-season game on October 9, 2017.  If he does get close to that Toney style of play, the Philadelphia 76ers fans are in for a real treat. And the fans of the Boston Celtics are in for some sleepless nights.