CLEVELAND (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Cedi Osman is looking forward to the next time he competes for Turkey, which isn't surprising considering how special the experience at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 was in Istanbul.

The 22-year-old breaks into a big grin when he talks about having had the opportunity to play in the tournament in his own country.

"Our supporters in Istanbul were spectacular," he said to FIBA.basketball. "They were with us in every game no matter if we won or lost. In addition, I think we showed that we have the fighting spirit in the games when we are together with them in the arenas."

Osman is now in the United States trying to find success in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers and therefore wasn't able to play in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers back in November.

"THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE TURKISH NATIONAL TEAM IS TO FIGHT UNTIL THE LAST BALL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT GAME WE ARE PLAYING" OsmanOsman

He did, however, monitor events.

"To start with victories over Latvia in Bursa and Ukraine in an away game was a very good start in terms of leaving our mark in our group," Osman said. "But, even more important than that, it made our team's motivation go up in the beginning of the qualifiers. 

"It was a fact that we had to defeat Ukraine in our away game to make the win at home against Latvia meaningful."

When Osman does play for Turkey again, he'll be a pivotal player. He thrived in the uptempo style of game preferred by coach Ufuk Sarica at the EuroBasket, averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3.8 assists - all team highs. His best game was against Russia on opening night, a clash Turkey lost at the end, 76-73.

Turkey did not miss a beat without him in the victories over Latvia and Ukraine in the World Cup Qualifiers, though.

"My friends succeeded at this as a team," he said. "We showed with these games that we're a good team together with a wide squad and rotation. In a short while, we played with a very different squad than EuroBasket 2017, but we had a good start by fighting and using our game system.

"The philosophy of the Turkish national team is to fight until the last ball, regardless of what game we are playing. We managed to win in Bursa with also the support of our fantastic supporters and did the same in Kiev with a good play."

Osman says that Turkey's best chance of success, no matter who is on the court, is to bring an unrivaled intensity to the floor and to play together.

"Fighting well as a team, acting together on both offense and defense, are the most important tools to succeed," he said. "Statistically, there were some players that stood out in both games, but I believe our success came with good teamwork in those two games."

"WHEN YOU WEAR THAT JERSEY, IT GIVES YOU A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY AND GREAT EXCITEMENT TO FEEL THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE BACKING YOU" - Osman

While he wants to represent his homeland on June 28 against Ukraine and on July 1 against Sweden, two games that will be in Turkey, Osman says he has to wait and see.

"I have to comply with my game programs," he said. "I hope we'll go to the last game in the NBA this year. Of course this means that I will spend the whole of June here (in the United States). However, if there are no health problems, and if the conditions are appropriate, wearing a national jersey is always an honor for me.

"When you wear that jersey, it gives you a huge responsibility and great excitement to feel that millions of people are backing you."

FIBA