ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Cedi Osman is back in Turkey and eager to help his national team get back on track in its pursuit of a berth in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China.

He will be a leading figure when Turkey, with two wins and two defeats in their first four Qualifiers, host Ukraine and then Sweden in the coming days.

Fresh off his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Osman has been able to watch teammate LeBron James on a daily basis and draw inspiration from him, one of the greatest players of all time.

"He is an amazing character, very respectful, hard-working," Osman said. "He is a real professional and takes care of his body very well. He is 33 years old but he has a body like a 20-year-old. He always comes to practice early and leaves late, also cares about treatments and fitness. I can say that I admire his passion to work and train."

While Osman may never make the sort of waves in the NBA that James has, Turkey's 23-year-old forward has certainly become a beloved figure in his own country. He's a player that all fans root for, one that shouldered much of the burden last summer when playing at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 on home soil in Istanbul.

"FIBA EuroBasket 2017 was very important for me," he said. "I was aware of the fact that I should play well there on the way to my NBA career. I was concentrated on the success of the team in there because we were really a young team.

"I enjoyed it a lot, playing at EuroBasket 2017. Bobby Dixon (aka Ali Muhammed) was not there at that time and it was hard for us to play in his absence as we got used to him being in the team. Anyway, we had a great atmosphere in the team. We played with our teammates that we played together for long time. For me, I enjoyed it a lot, playing for my team and myself and gaining great experience before I went to NBA."

“WE BECOME A REALLY DIFFERENT AND BETTER TEAM WHEN WE PLAY AT HOME IN FRONT OF OUR FANS. AND OUR BASKETBALL COMPLETELY CHANGES WHEN WE BECOME ONE AND INTEGRATE WITH THEM AT HOME.”Cedi Osman

Osman says there was an unmistakable advantage that Turkey had as the host nation last summer, something that may be a determining factor in World Cup Qualifiers coming up against Ukraine (June 28) and Sweden (July 1) in Ankara.

"I always say this," Osman said. "We play better basketball in front of our fans. Turkish fans always show great support to us. It doesn't matter where we are playing, actually. They support us everywhere.

"However, we become a really different and better team when we play at home in front of our fans. And our basketball completely changes when we become one and integrate with them at home. That is why I always get really excited and thrilled during the games we play at home. These two games coming up will be the same for me. I really look forward to these games."

Osman was 4 of 8 from 3-point range against Latvia at FIBA EuroBasket 2017

Osman was already a very good player when he left Europe for the NBA. He was confident, and rightfully so. He had averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists against top competition at the EuroBasket.

He should be even better and more impactful on his return to international basketball following a solid rookie campaign with the Cavs.

"It was a great experience for me to be in a team that became the Eastern Conference champions and involved in play-offs, although I didn't have too much playing time in the games," he  said. "I would have gained a lot of experience if I had been in a team that did not reach the play-offs but it was really an unexpected great experience for me for a first season in the NBA."

Osman averaged 11.0mpg in the Regular Season but also had a few stretches where he logged even more minutes.

"FOR THE QUALIFIERS WE LOST, THE SWEDEN GAME WAS UNEXPECTED FOR ME. HOWEVER, TEAMS CAN HAVE BAD DAYS AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS FOR US. I THINK WE STILL HAVE THE ADVANTAGE FOR THE LAST TWO GAMES AND WE WANT TO WIN THESE TWO."Osman

 "I would never guess that I'd have that much time in games in such a big team with such great players in my first year," he said. "I can say that this year improved me a lot as a person and a player."

The improvement, most assuredly, is something that Turkey will use to their advantage in the coming days as they attempt to bounce back from a 59-58 defeat at Sweden in Stockholm on February 23 and a 79-70 loss at Latvia in Riga three days later.

They go into the third window in second place in Group B behind Ukraine (3-1) and ahead of Latvia (2-2) and Sweden (1-3).

"For the Qualifiers we lost, the Sweden game was unexpected for me," he said. "However, teams can have bad days sometimes. and it was one of those days for us. I think we still have the advantage for the last two games and we want to win these two."

FIBA