American-Turkish basketball player found dead in New York

NEW YORK

A U.S.-born Turkish basketball player has been found dead in New York, according to media reports.

The New York Daily News reported that police found the body of Ali Karadeniz, born Michael Wright, in his SUV under a pile of garbage bags in Brooklyn on Nov. 12.

He was sprawled in the backseat of the vehicle and covered with trash bags, the daily said, citing police sources.
 
A police source said the 35-year-old suffered from bipolar disorder and may have committed suicide.

Born in Chicago in 1980, Karadeniz spent most of his career in Europe, playing in a number countries including Turkey, Poland, Spain, Israel, Germany and France.

In Turkey, he played for Beşiktaş, Türk Telekom, Mersin Municipality and Trabzonspor. He was granted Turkish citizenship in 2010.

Karadeniz most recently played for Cholet Basket of France, which he left earlier this year.