Nakkasoglu's parents were born in Turkey and emigrated to Australia "about 25 years ago," Nakkasoglu said. Growing up, their daughter became part of the basketball boom that swept the country during the past two decades.
Funda Nakkasoglu (pronounced Foon-da Knock-a-so-glue) played junior basketball with scores of players who are now in the United States. Among them: Dante Exum of the Utah Jazz and Ben Simmons of LSU, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in next summer's NBA Draft.
"… We're everywhere," she said, laughing. "There are so many of us. It's great everyone is doing so well.