After two years of courting the hope of finally seeing the arrival of Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers fans have finally been formally introduced to the “Croatian Sensation”
The Croatian Sensation.
He is the “boy next door” making it big-time in the NBA. Dario Saric certainly fits the blue-collar mold which is so important for Philadelphia. He is more than just a young man who has arrived wide eyed to the NBA. He is a rookie who stands, commands and understands the NBA like a seasoned veteran.
Now, he is a blue collar Philadelphia 76er. However you see it, this is going to be good.
For the past two seasons, Dario Saric has honed his craft in Europe against basketball veterans, and held his own. During that time, he’s developed a three point shot and a resolve that won’t quit. He’s banged boards, taken some blows but dished some out as well, and continued to score and rebound.
Dario Saric admitted he wasn't ready for NBA 2 years ago, as a player or person. Now he feels he is. @JCameratoCSN https://t.co/M5OSByCFRZ
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) September 27, 2016
In the forge of European basketball, he has been tempered with resolve, skill, and courage.
Previously, we had an introductory story about Saric when there was still doubt as to his arrival. If you get the time, it’s worth a read. Even if you do not seek out sports biographies, you’ll enjoy reading the story of a young man born to a Croatian basketball family. Here’s an excerpt from that story, the part about loyalty that truly hits home with me:
Loyalty Runs Deep In This One
"22 year old Dario Saric, son of Predrag and Vesalinka Šarić, brings something far more valuable to this team and to this city. He brings the realization that a promise is just that, a promise. In the modern NBA, the shifting loyalties of free agencies, max contracts, and small ball has blurred our vision and we’ve lost the perspective fought so hard to establish by Wilt Chamberlain, Bobby Jones, Julius Erving, Darryl Dawkins, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, and even Allen Iverson. There is loyalty yet in this NBA. The loyalty of Predrag Šarić, and his young son Dario Saric, have a lesson for the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers. If we have forgotten the significance of our team in the NBA, they have not. This is not about money after all. After all is said and done, this is about the honor of donning the jersey of the Philadelphia 76ers jersey and joining a very select and distinguished group of men who have blazed a trail and a market for the NBA and for basketball worldwide."
In the end, it’s not about the money after all. It’s about his word to come to Philadelphia after two years.
Thankfully, integrity is not dead. It is alive and well and it stands in Philadelphia in the form of Dario Saric. In the aftermath of three years of austerity, it feels as though we’ve hit the motherlode of basketball talent this year.
More Than Integrity
Let’s be honest to ourselves. Integrity is great, but it comes down to NBA proficiency in this league. Proficiency like that of… Dario Saric. To reveal this, we turn to our good friends over at basketball-reference.org.
What we find is a young man who has improved each season. In fact, his latest competition found his shooting up to 50 percent from the floor – with 55.2 percent on field goals and 40.3 percent from three point range. That’s the type of player this team needs on the roster.
| Season | League(s) | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-12 | Euroleague | 4 | 15 | 0.8 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.167 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.222 | 0.233 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 | |
| 2012-13 | Eurocup | 1 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 0.333 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.4 | 0.333 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2013-14 | Eurocup | 10 | 32.8 | 5 | 10.3 | 0.485 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.308 | 4.6 | 9 | 0.511 | 0.505 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 0.781 | 2.9 | 5.4 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 1 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 12.9 | |
| 2014-15 | Euroleague | 27 | 24.4 | 3.4 | 7.8 | 0.433 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.306 | 2.7 | 5.5 | 0.486 | 0.479 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 0.707 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 6.4 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2 | 9.9 | |
| 2015-16 | Euroleague | 24 | 22.5 | 4.3 | 8.6 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 3 | 0.403 | 3.1 | 5.6 | 0.552 | 0.57 | 1.9 | 2 | 0.939 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 11.7 | |
| 66 | 24.3 | 3.8 | 8.2 | 0.461 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.344 | 3 | 5.8 | 0.508 | 0.51 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 0.783 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 2 | 2.3 | 10.4 |
In fact, The Sixer Sense’s own Josh Wilson wrote a nice piece about Saric impressing head coach Brett Brown.
But we could have learned all of this. What have we learned since his arrival? Well we know he is impressed so far. In fact, if you want to catch all of the 76ers taking over on Media day, check out FanSided’s Friendly Bounce with Matt Rutkowski:
Dario Saric on NBA/Sixers/Fans: "Everything is better than what I expected." #sixers
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 26, 2016
And why not? He’s arrived to a state of the art training facility. The gauntlet of excellence has been thrown at his feet. But the trick question, is a hot dog a sandwich?
.@Dcorrigan50 I think no #AskASixer
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 26, 2016
But what other revelations have we learned about our Croation Sensation? Well, we know he was already at an Eagles game, and he has already “gotten” the fanbase.
.@jtaiariol12 I was at Eagles game yesterday I see they are tough and hard city #AskASixer
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 26, 2016
But there is still more.
Media Day Revelations
Well, we have an entirely new chapter of information on the Croation Sensation now. For one thing, we know he has dance moves:
And we know he can drain three pointers:
Dario Saric drains threes in Camden, NJ. pic.twitter.com/1SogkVz8fP
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) September 23, 2016
We know that he is determined to play well:
Dario Saric: "I will give 100 percent. I will try to fight every game." #Sixers #NBA
— Jessica Camerato (@JessicaCamerato) September 27, 2016
And he will play a significant role on the team this year:
#Sixers Dario Saric: 'I spoke with coach & think I'll have a good role this year. I'll have the ball in my hands.'
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) September 26, 2016
I won’t lie. Right now I am excited to see Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Additionally, I am eager to see newly signed free agents Sergio Rodriguez, Jerryd Bayless, and Gerald Henderson. Even moreso, I am even eager to see what returning players Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Jerami Grant, Robert Covington, T.J. McConnell, and Richaun Holmes deliver this year. But I cannot contain my enthusiasm when I project Olympic star Dario Saric on this team.
He fills a void on the roster in many ways: a true 82 game power forward who can play offense and defense, who is out to prove himself to the NBA, and a blue collar guy who is out to do his best. He can work the boards, pass on a laser beam, shoot from long range, and block a game winning shot.
Next: Was Nerlens Noel Making a Statement During Media Day?
But most of all, he can make the ladies swoon.
That pretty much seals the deal.