Dario Saric - The Next Big Thing

[Livno]

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Dario-Saric-5706/

He ist the MVP of the U16 European Championship, leading the Championship in

#1 PPG
#1 RPG
#2 APG

Its far away to talk about the draft, but I see him as the #1 Pick in the future!

[Livno]

The Championships Final Game just finished:

Croatia is the new European Champion!!!

Dario Saric:

30 PTS (5/8 for 3)
11 RBS
11 AST
3 BLK

[babyjax13]

It would be good for Croatia if he could become "the next big thing." It is certainly early, but what he is doing is impressive.

[kuhane gace]

http://basketballoutsider.wordpress.com ... rio-saric/

At age 16, it’s blasphemy to compare his game with any of the greats that ever played but Saric does possess the skills to be a Magic Johnson, a LeBron James type of player. I believe Europe has never seen anything like him. That’s just how special he’s.

[Livno]

"the historical gold medal of Croatia and the dominance of Dario Saric who was voted unanimously as the MVP of the tournament."

A player like Saric appears once in years

Saric played in five positions, knew how to create off the dribble from distance and also around the rim. He was ranked Top4 in no less than 14 categories

Link

[emunney]

Cool, can't wait to see him never play in the NBA.

[Fuzzy Logic]

I caught some of this in the UK over the last ten days or so - highlights and that. He looks pretty talented but there's a big difference between U16 European basketball and the NBA. Definitely worth keeping tabs on him though and see where he is in a year's time and what he's doing

[ponder276]

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Dario-Saric-5706/

He ist the MVP of the U16 European Championship, leading the Championship in

#1 PPG
#1 RPG
#2 APG

Its far away to talk about the draft, but I see him as the #1 Pick in the future!

Bargnani is the only Euro EVER to have been selected 1st overall, and BC was probably the only GM who would have taken him 1st in the that draft. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Bargs, Darko and Pau are the only Euros ever to even go top 4. It is highly, highly unlikely that Saric, or any Euro prospect, will go 1st overall in the NBA draft. I'm sure the vast, vast majority of players who dominate the U16 Euro Championships go on to do absolutely nothing in the NBA.

With that being said I have never seen him play beyond a few youtube highlights I just looked up (where he looked like a tall, skinny kid with a pretty good handle but nothing close to explosive athleticism), so this is more a comment on people hyping Euro prospects in general than anything about Saric in particular.

[sisibilio]

Rubio would have surely been a top 3 pick if not for his dubious contractual situation last year.
And Rubio is the only recent player i remember who dominated a u-16 european champ in a similar way to Saric. Aleksandrov or Kanter come close but not that much.
Valanciunas will likely be also a top 4 pick whenever he decides to enter the draft.

[kookie_819]

For a second, I got Dario Saric confused with Marko Jaric (who IMO looks like a fair "worst-case scenario" comparison for Saric)

[kuhane gace]

pounder276

Bogut bouth parents imigrated from Croatia, So tehnicley bargnani is firs euro drafet 1st, but tehnicley first ever euro selected first is guy with Croatian origins

Seriusley- if Kukoč, Sabonis, Petrović, Radja or even Nowitzki are now 18-19 year old kids they would be drafted much higher then they were. Anway, what position he will be drafted doesn't realy matter as long as he becomes player what he can become

Is Šarić hyped? Yes. Same as Rubio, James, or Kwame Brown was. Croatia, Spain or USA--evryone hypes their potential stars. Time will tell will he ever reach hype. So far he is standing still and he is geting hype in Croatia since he was 11year old kid., now slowley his hype becomes more and more global. Last year his family refused 3milion euros ofer from Caja Labaral. In 2007. his first coach in Dražen Petrović basketball academey Branko Klisović on one TV show said he called Dražen's mother and said they have kid who will be better then her son. Now you can get idea how high he has been hyped. Is that good? No, but so far he is handling presure very good.

Does he have elite atleticisam? No. But he is surley nicley athletic kid for 6'9 still developing kid. Very close to Nowitzki, Hedo type atlheticisam. What did you expect to find videos of him as 15 and 16 year old? Jordan in prime First for sample this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBpAw-BMJxY
Would you assume this kid is better then him because he looks better in video? Karlo Lebo is his teammate from same team that beated Lithuania and isn't nearly good as him. He wouldn't be even in starting 5 if Mario Hezonja were not injured. 2nd his game is more then athleticisam. His game is toghnes, character, skills and above all, things that only few players in past could match like Magic, Bird, Kukoč, Čosić or Bodiroga, briliant moves that nobady can't teach you. Scouts, expert and others not only in Croatia who have seen him polay don't call him without reason best prospect in years, some even go far and caliing him best talent ever. His uniqe talent is unquestionable, but for sure he is still a kid and lot's of things can change. He still needs tons of work and to develope. Will he ever reach hype only time will tell.

"Falit će mi epiteta za ovog momka, gospodina magistra profesora doktora košarke Šarića."

I will miss titles for this kid, Mister, Master, Profesor, Doctor of basketball Šarić

- By motenegrian TV cometator during semifanals with Spain

And this guy during former Yugoslavia for sure had chance to see lot of great players in their youth like Kukoč, Petrović, Radja, Divac, Bodiroga etc. Now you can get idea in what speciall way this kid playe, that his game is not just athleticisam or just pure skills. It's also combing all "tools" he has with briliant understanding and seeing game that only reare players ever did. His game isn't "flashy" like Rodriguez or Williams, his game is artistic like Kukoč or Magic was

[sisibilio]

Seriusley- if Kukoč, Sabonis, Petrović, Radja or even Nowitzki are now 18-19 year old kids they would be drafted much higher then they were. Anway, what position he will be drafted doesn't realy matter as long as he becomes player what he can become

A 19 years old Sabonis would be a lock to the n1 pick in every draft of the past decade but maybe in 2003.

[azuresou1]

No he wouldn't.

Over Kwame, who was supposed to be better than D-Rob?
Over Oden, who was supposed to be a D-Rob/Bill Russell cross?

[sisibilio]

No he wouldn't.

Over Kwame, who was supposed to be better than D-Rob?
Over Oden, who was supposed to be a D-Rob/Bill Russell cross?

Over Kwame, i have no doubt about it. Oden was the oter one i had some doubts but Sabonis at 18-19 was something SERIOUS. A 7-2 center who could move like a SF, shoot and handle like a SG and pass like a PG. He was something the world had never seen. Basically a 7-2 and more athletic version of Larry Bird.

[SportsGuy8]

No he wouldn't.

Over Kwame, who was supposed to be better than D-Rob?
Over Oden, who was supposed to be a D-Rob/Bill Russell cross?

Sabonis was not only "supposed to be better than D-Rob", he WAS better than D-Rob!

Most people don't realize just how sick Sabonis was. D-Rob was really great in his prime, I always liked him, but Sabonis was on another level. The only 2 centers as of late that compare to Sabonis are Hakeem & Shaq in their PRIMES. That's how sick Sabonis was.

He could do it all. Great low post scorer, probably the best passing big ever, very strong & athletic, very mobile, great shooting touch and also a great rebounder (his rebounding is underrated; for the Blazers he averaged 8 per game in only 25 minutes, all while being basically totally broken down).
All at 7'3!!

When I think of top centers, I think of a group Russell, Kareem, Hakeem, Shaq, Wilt and Sabonis!

Btw., Sabonis at 18 (actually I think he might have been 17 at that time):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyzUZWVLJy8&feature=related[/youtube]
Keep in mind that that's early 80s where training techniques were different. Had he been a subject of todays training, his athleticism would be even better! (the same as you can't compare for example Wilt Chamberlain to todays athleticism)

I agree with the statement what he would have pretty much been a lock every year except for 03.

[kuhane gace]

sabonis athlecticisam suferd because of disaterus injury wich would end many players carer. dino radja played against him before injury and said he was harder to guard then shaq before injury. if sabonis is now 18 his hype wouldn't be that he is suposed to be better then d. roinson, his hype would be that he is supesed to be one of best players ever

[GJense4181]

Please tell me that English is not your first language.

[kuhane gace]

Please tell me that English is not your first language.

no, it is not but i give my best

[babyjax13]

Please tell me that English is not your first language.

no, it is not but i give my best

Don't worry, you are quite understandable and we appreciate your input . This is certainly turning into an interesting subject, but I really don't think that we can start calling this kid the next Sabonis or Dirk (not that anyone is).

[BlackIce]

Please tell me that English is not your first language.

No need to be a di*k.