Dario Saric is quickly becoming the Sixers’ no. 2 weapon offensively

By Christopher Kline | Jan 2, 2018

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers sits on the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 31, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 76ers defeated the Suns 123-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Dario Saric has been balling for the Philadelphia 76ers lately, and his importance is rising as a result.

This season has been a learning process for Dario Saric. He began the year in a new role, starting on the bench and quickly being shuffled into a new-look starting five. After being the Philadelphia 76ers‘ go-to option for the second half of last season, he had to adjust to playing alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

Saric also had two straight years of international competition factoring into his early struggles. He spent the summer of 2016 in the Rio Olympics before spending this past summer in the EuroBasket tournament, leading the Croatian National Team in both settings.

That puts a toll on your body, and he seemed to be a step slow at the beginning of the season — something two years of non-stop basketball can do to someone.

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Nonetheless, Saric has come on strong as of late. He’s averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game over his last 10 contests, taking on a bigger role in the Sixers’ offense while shining in games where Embiid sits. Brett Brown has found more ways to unlock Saric’s most productive traits, and the results have been nothing short of positive.

All the appeal with Saric as a prospect stemmed from his playmaking. He was somebody who had the potential to run the offense at times, dropping dimes out of the post and showcasing impressive versatility out to the 3-point line.

We saw flashes of that last season, especially once Embiid went down. The Sixers went back into developmental mode and point-Dario was unleashed on more than one occasion.

It took a while, however, for the Sixers to find that version of Dario this season. He was relegated to more of an off-ball role, spotting up as a complimentary piece to the ball-dominant Simmons and Embiid. He was always going to take a backseat to those two, but the extent to which he was limited left some concerns over his long-term standing with the team.

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That narrative has obviously shifted, with Saric’s shot improving — 41.7 percent from deep over that 10-game stretch — and his playmaking becoming a more prominent fixture of his game. Simmons and T.J. McConnell are still the primary ball handlers, but Saric is doing more and looks more comfortable with how the offense is flowing around him.

That 4.0 assist mark is well above his career average, and highlights just how dangerous Saric’s passing can be. He’s already a crafty finisher around the rim, and has flashes of vision that rival the league’s best in terms of difficultly. The Sixers aren’t even maximizing his potential, but he’s one heck of a third cog offensively.

As long as his shots are falling and Saric is given more freedom to operate, Brett Brown is going to have a tough time cutting his minutes once Markelle Fultz returns. There are benefits to having Saric and either Fultz or McConnell run the second unit, but Saric continues to show the kind of upside that many didn’t think he had early in the campaign.

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Saric has been playing his best ball lately, and hopefully that trend continues in the new year.