SAHA | Kemal Tunçeri | TEDxITU

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Introduction

The speaker expresses gratitude for being invited to speak and acknowledges the significance of İTÜ for him, having played for the team for four years.
He plans to share three important milestones in his life, using examples and humor.

The speaker's introduction to basketball came from his father, a former national athlete, and they were surrounded by basketball memorabilia and stories growing up.
The speaker and his brother, Kerem Tunçeri, began their basketball journey at Galatasaray's newly established facilities.
Despite his father's suggestion to pursue football, the speaker's father ultimately encouraged them to follow their own interests and abilities.
After this pivotal moment, the speaker and his brother embarked on their basketball careers, joining Galatasaray's youth team and beginning their training.

The speaker highlights the contrast between his own well-equipped appearance and his brother's more modest attire, emphasizing the importance of making wise investments.
The speaker talks about his struggles in basketball despite his passion for the sport.
He mentions his time in the youth team, where he rarely got to play due to his physical disadvantages.
After not making it to the main team, he was loaned to a second division team called Netaş.
At Netaş, he faced intense competition and initially struggled to get playing time.
Despite the challenges, he persevered and eventually got his chance due to injuries to other players.
The speaker reflects on the importance of being prepared and taking advantage of opportunities when they arise.

The speaker reflects on a crucial moment in his basketball career when he almost gave up due to lack of opportunities.
Despite facing challenges and setbacks, he persevered and eventually received a life-changing phone call from Ergin Ataman, who offered him a spot on the Türk Telekom team.
Joining Türk Telekom marked a turning point in his career, leading to an impressive winning streak and eventually a spot on the national team.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and developing unique skills, rather than relying solely on hard work and determination.
The speaker talks about the amount of effort and dedication required to become an expert in a field, using basketball as an example.
They mention that to become a good surgeon, one needs to perform a certain number of surgeries and gain experience.
The speaker emphasizes that becoming a master in any field requires reaching certain milestones and putting in a significant amount of work.
They provide specific examples from their own basketball career, such as the number of games played, practices attended, shots taken, and weight lifted.
The speaker also mentions the physical toll that pursuing excellence can take, such as injuries and the number of stitches they received.
They reflect on their journey and the sacrifices they made to achieve their goal of playing for the national team, which was their father's dream.

The speaker concludes that true happiness comes from personal relationships and starting a new chapter in life, as they did with their two daughters.
Do things with love and happiness.
Stay happy and loving.
Thank you for listening to me.