Dragan Bender - 97 born Croatian prospect

[MrTwister]

ICYMI
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[Zombiesonics]

What is benders comp? He hangs out on the perimeter on offense or can he mix it up off the bounce/in the paint? Very interesting place because of his size ,mobility , and shooting . I just worry with young euros about the cultural gap, someone like vesley comes to mind

[doordoor123]

What is benders comp? He hangs out on the perimeter on offense or can he mix it up off the bounce/in the paint? Very interesting place because of his size ,mobility , and shooting . I just worry with young euros about the cultural gap, someone like vesley comes to mind

He can do both. His shot will get better, but he has good post moves. I don't really have a comp for him, but maybe Pau Gasol. I've heard 7'1 Andrei Kirilenko, but I'm not sold on that.

[Dell]

Yeah everyone is going to want to compare him to Porzingis, but they aren't all that similar.

[Stackey]

Bender comparison is Toni Kukoc. And like him, he is more of a 12 points 8 rebounds 5 assists type of a player, great teammate and part of a great team, but not really a go to guy.

[Mustinjo]

What is benders comp? He hangs out on the perimeter on offense or can he mix it up off the bounce/in the paint? Very interesting place because of his size ,mobility , and shooting . I just worry with young euros about the cultural gap, someone like vesley comes to mind

He's been living in Israel for past two years, I doubt he will have any problems with adjusting to USA and its culture.

[Dr Positivity]

What is benders comp? He hangs out on the perimeter on offense or can he mix it up off the bounce/in the paint? Very interesting place because of his size ,mobility , and shooting . I just worry with young euros about the cultural gap, someone like vesley comes to mind

If he's a star - Draymond Green role, 3pt shooting, defensive anchor, high playmaking PF. Modern PF

If he's an average player then it's probably more like Ersan Ilyasova

[Von Bismarck]

Bender's comparison is bigger/longer Toni Kukoc IMO. Point Forward in every sense of that word. 15-8-5 player in his peak, second guy on the contender most likely. Defensively, if developed right, he can be one of the best in his position due to his ridiculous size.

And to note, Toni Kukoc was and still is one of the most talented European players ever. He was a genius on the court.

Worth TOP 3 pick for sure, most likely he'll go behind Ingram and Simmons but you never know who's gonna draft first.

[Von Bismarck]

If he's an average player then it's probably more like Ersan Ilyasova

Not a good comparison at all. Illyasova is way shorter than Bender, slower, less vertical and his court vision is nowhere in comparison to Bender.

Not to even speak about defense where Illyasova cannot guard a chair. Bender can be an average defender solely based on his size, length and his already good perimeter defense.

[Golabki]

I'm coming in here to log my position that Bender is going to be a massive bust.

I don't like Euro's coming into the league who have done zero in the pros in Europe. His physical tools are okay, but not freakish (length is just average for a big and he's a fluid but not a super explosive athlete).

His ball skills are good for an 7' teenager, but he has a LONG way to go before he even effective as a shooter and passer in Europe.

To me he seems a lot more like a draft and stash guy for a contender with a late first round rounder than a top 5 pick.

[Stackey]

I'm coming in here to log my position that Bender is going to be a massive bust.

I don't like Euro's coming into the league who have done zero in the pros in Europe. His physical tools are okay, but not freakish (length is just average for a big and he's a fluid but not a super explosive athlete).

His ball skills are good for an 7' teenager, but he has a LONG way to go before he even effective as a shooter and passer in Europe.

To me he seems a lot more like a draft and stash guy for a contender with a late first round rounder than a top 5 pick.

And I guess at same time Sabonis is perfectly fine for you, atlhough Bender posses way better psychical tools, length, shooting, court vision and is just more talented.

Sorry for me being suspicious, but there are people who say things about Bender and I'm like "well, I see his point", but then I see that same people brag how awesome Sabonis is, although he is undersized center with poor wingspan who can't play PF because he can't shoot. Those people are ignorant.

[Golabki]

I'm coming in here to log my position that Bender is going to be a massive bust.

I don't like Euro's coming into the league who have done zero in the pros in Europe. His physical tools are okay, but not freakish (length is just average for a big and he's a fluid but not a super explosive athlete).

His ball skills are good for an 7' teenager, but he has a LONG way to go before he even effective as a shooter and passer in Europe.

To me he seems a lot more like a draft and stash guy for a contender with a late first round rounder than a top 5 pick.

And I guess at same time Sabonis is perfectly fine for you, atlhough Bender posses way better psychical tools, length, shooting, court vision and is just more talented.

Sorry for me being suspicious, but there are people who say things about Bender and I'm like "well, I see his point", but then I see that same people brag how awesome Sabonis is, although he is undersized center with poor wingspan who can't play PF because he can't shoot. Those people are ignorant.

First, I think Sabonis was a better player two years ago in Europe than Bender is now. But still... I'd probably put Bender and Sabonis on the same tier.

Sabonis has been good in college, but I don't think he's been outstanding and the wingspan is really a big red flag for me. He's a guy where I think 19 is about right for him (that's where DraftExpress has him now) unless he surprises at the combine and measures bigger or more athletic than we expect. If that happens I think I would probably bump him into the top 10.

[Novocaine]

First, I think Sabonis was a better player two years ago in Europe than Bender is now. But still... I'd probably put Bender and Sabonis on the same tier.

Incidentally, Bender and Sabonis played against each other 2 years ago in Europe - Sabonis at 18 years old. Bender at 16 years old. I watched that game. They actually didn't match-up much individually because Croatia played a zone most of the time and Bender was playing as a perimeter forward while Sabonis was defending inside, but do you want to take a guess on who dominated the game and who was a non-factor?

[Golabki]

First, I think Sabonis was a better player two years ago in Europe than Bender is now. But still... I'd probably put Bender and Sabonis on the same tier.

Incidentally, Bender and Sabonis played against each other 2 years ago in Europe - Sabonis at 18 years old. Bender at 16 years old. I watched that game. They actually didn't match-up much individually because Croatia played a zone most of the time and Bender was playing as a perimeter forward while Sabonis was defending inside, but do you want to take a guess on who dominated the game and who was a non-factor?

What level of play?

[Novocaine]

First, I think Sabonis was a better player two years ago in Europe than Bender is now. But still... I'd probably put Bender and Sabonis on the same tier.

Incidentally, Bender and Sabonis played against each other 2 years ago in Europe - Sabonis at 18 years old. Bender at 16 years old. I watched that game. They actually didn't match-up much individually because Croatia played a zone most of the time and Bender was playing as a perimeter forward while Sabonis was defending inside, but do you want to take a guess on who dominated the game and who was a non-factor?

What level of play?

The U18 eurochampionships, what level of play were you expecting at those ages? Couldn't be any higher. Anyway, it was two years ago, that's why I brought it up.

[Golabki]

Incidentally, Bender and Sabonis played against each other 2 years ago in Europe - Sabonis at 18 years old. Bender at 16 years old. I watched that game. They actually didn't match-up much individually because Croatia played a zone most of the time and Bender was playing as a perimeter forward while Sabonis was defending inside, but do you want to take a guess on who dominated the game and who was a non-factor?

What level of play?

The U18 eurochampionships, what level of play were you expecting at those ages? Couldn't be any higher. Anyway, it was two years ago, that's why I brought it up.

That's what I thought, it just wasn't totally clear from your post.

I am EXTREMELY skeptical of players who are top draft picks based purely on play for the UXX teams (Bender is one). The tiny samples sizes, lack of overall talent and poor coaching in those games makes them pretty close to irrelevant to me. I also don't want to watch garbage basketball so I'm partially convincing myself to ignore it.

I applaud folks that do deep dives on this, but I'm just not really going to put much stock it in.

[Mustinjo]

For anyone interested here is a link to that game. Bender had a 34 and 14, Sabonis scored 2 pts with 1/8 FG.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T111y-x5Wm8

[RebelWithACause]

I am EXTREMELY skeptical of players who are top draft picks based purely on play for the UXX teams (Bender is one). The tiny samples sizes, lack of overall talent and poor coaching in those games makes them pretty close to irrelevant to me. I also don't want to watch garbage basketball so I'm partially convincing myself to ignore it.

I applaud folks that do deep dives on this, but I'm just not really going to put much stock it in.

So you don't watch college basketball as well then?

[Novocaine]

What level of play?

The U18 eurochampionships, what level of play were you expecting at those ages? Couldn't be any higher. Anyway, it was two years ago, that's why I brought it up.

That's what I thought, it just wasn't totally clear from your post.

I am EXTREMELY skeptical of players who are top draft picks based purely on play for the UXX teams (Bender is one). The tiny samples sizes, lack of overall talent and poor coaching in those games makes them pretty close to irrelevant to me. I also don't want to watch garbage basketball so I'm partially convincing myself to ignore it.

I applaud folks that do deep dives on this, but I'm just not really going to put much stock it in.

Fair enough, but about 95% of the players in the draft have none or little pro experience, so that's a radically nihilistic approach. I disagree about sample size, between national teams and high level tournaments like L'Hospitalet, Schweitzer, Eurocamps and junior Euroleague there are plenty of games, or about the lack of overall talent - in that game, there were two first round picks, potentially lottery, a couple of other guys who might end up being drafted and playing in the NBA and a handful who will play at a high level in Europe - that's more high-level talent than most college games.

To be fair, I recall feeling that game was telling me more about Sabonis than about Bender, about whom I'm agnostic, as I said here before.

Anyway, you were the one who claimed that the Sabonis of two years ago was better than the current Bender. Frankly, the 2 years ago Sabonis wasn't really better than the 16 years old Bender.

[toussaud]

Bender ate him alive 2 years ago for 36 points as a teenager

Kukoc is a good comparison though he's not as good a shooter then again I wonder how good a shooter he was at a 18. Bender is more post oriented

Kukoc was a legit all star caliber player that played on the same team with two of the best players of all time