The Sixer Sense
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5 Areas Dario Saric Helps the Sixers In

By Josh Wilson

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Dario Saric (Croatia) gets a hug after being selected as the number twelve overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Dario Saric (Croatia) gets a hug after being selected as the number twelve overall pick to the Orlando Magic in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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International exposure

Another area of help that Saric offers is international exposure, which is increasingly important in today’s NBA. NBA teams that have tapped into international markets have been lucky enough to have solid viewership and fans worldwide. The internet makes that easily possible.

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Kobe Bryant drew in China, and Yao Ming also brought Chinese fans to the Houston Rockets. Many Asian fans are now moving towards the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry. The rationale here is that the Warriors (or any other California-based team) are the easiest team to get to from Asia via a flight or boat.

Dirk Nowitzki gave the Dallas Mavericks a Germany viewership. Several Canadians have pushed basketball into the limelight alongside Hockey over the last few decades.

The Sixers already had international exposure, but Saric only helps to expand it.

Joel Embiid is a Cameroon native (and Jahlil Okafor has somewhat recent roots in Africa as well). Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is French. Nik Stuaskas is Canadian. Ben Simmons is Australian.

All of those players will draw fans in from their respective corners of the world. Dario, being a Croatian, (and a very popular one at the moment) will bring in a huge Croatian viewership, but will also bring in a lot of Turkish fans, since Saric has played in Istanbul for the past few years.

In addition to Saric, the Sixers’ 26th overall pick this season, Furkan Korkmaz, will likely not come play for the Sixers for a few years, and plays on Saric’s old team, so those fans will really want to tune in when two former players are on the Sixers.

These extra viewers expand the fanbase, bring in more revenue to the team, and ultimately — on the business side of things — will help the Sixers transition out of being the “worst team in the league.”

Next: Positionless and versatility