Memo "Money Man" Okur Retires

Memo announced his retirement. Moni was the first one to tweet about it (way to go Moni!) Here is Memo's official statement regarding his retirement:

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"Right now, as a 33 year-old I’m putting an end to my basketball career that I started in 1993 when I was 14 years old. Despite starting late, I pursued my basketball career with determination and love. I had the honour of having countless individual and team success in my career. Silver medal that we won in 2001 European Championship was the first medal for Turkey in team-sports, and then I became the first Turkish player to become an allstar in the NBA and the first Turkish player to win an NBA title.

I represented my country at the highest level possible for many years, but after having back-to-back injuries in the recent years, despite all my effort to come back; I understood that I can not be the old Mehmet Okur again. While working out with my private trainer, I got offers many NBA teams and elite teams from Europe. However, Once your body doesn’t allow you to be as good as you were in the past and If you are used to playing at a certain level. I think it’s time to say goodbye to the sport that you love very much. That time has came for Mehmet Okur.

I have became who I am thanks to my family, my coaches, my team mates, and the Turkish people who always supported me. So, Big Thanks to everyone who supported me in this exciting 19-year journey."

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Memo is one of my all time favorite Jazz players. It was Memo and AK who made me become fanatical about the Jazz again after a lull in my commitment through my mission and being a newlywed.

Memo is as loyal as they come. When I was sitting courtside with Greg Miller, Greg shared with me (and I have since heard him say it publicly) that telling Memo he was traded was one of the hardest phone calls he had to make as the owner of the Jazz. Greg loved Memo, we all loved Memo.

Jim Burton of the Standard Examinar shared some memories of Memo. Here is one when Memo returned to the ESA after being traded to the Nets:

Before I could begin interviewing him, he began interviewing me. He kept asking things like, "How are you?" and "How’s the team looking?" and "You doing OK, man? You happy?"

It’s funny, over the 21-plus years I’ve spent at the Standard-Examiner I’ve had the chance to interview many athletes. Rarely, though, has one ever interviewed me.

Mike Grant from KSL shared these memories on Twitter:

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Additionally, Jazz fan @chang_max shared this:

Max's memory is something I had totally forgotten about until today. I love sharing memories we're reminded of things we may have forgotten.

I want to publicly thank Memo for all the memories. I want to thank him for his countless clutch 3's, his rumblings down the lane, his extraordinaire defense on Yao Ming and other bigs. I want to thank Memo for finally helping us beat the Spurs. I want to thank him for giving it all for the Jazz.

We love you Memo, you will aways be our Money Man who big-balled Kobe.

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Please share your favorite memories of Memo in the comment section. We'll make sure to send Memo the link to your comments on twitter.