Cleveland Cavaliers forward Semih Erden teamed with New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams to help Turkish League power Besiktas win its opening game 107-69 against Bandirma Kirzmizi on Oct. 16.
Erden scored 13 points and added eight rebounds to help pace Besitkas to a dominant victory in the team's season opener. Williams, the two-time All-Star point guard, scored 11 points along with five assists in his Turkish League debut. Marcelus Kemp led Besiktas with 27 points.
The 25 year-old Erden was born in Turkey and started his professional career in the Turkish Basketball League. Erden, who signed with Besitkas on Sept. 21, was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He was traded to the Cavaliers on Feb. 24, 2011 and has averaged 4.4 points in 41 career NBA games.
Williams is the most prominent NBA player to sign with a club overseas during the NBA lockout. The first two weeks of the regular season have already been canceled, and the owners and players are expected to meet again on Oct. 18.