Dragan Bender - 97 born Croatian prospect

[Kolkmania]

I think the whole point forward label is a marketing thing, what forward was an actual playmaker the last decades? Diaw and Odom come to my mind. But, a forward that is able to read the defense and has above average passing skills, is extremely valuable in modern NBA basketball. I'm curious what impact Saric will have next season.

[pohani komarac]

Some people should shout their mout on subject they don't know much

Dario Saric played as Pf all the time before turning pro. There him and coaches realised he can't play that on pro level and he become strech PF.

Dragan Bender in Split juniors and cadets played often as PG, also in Croatian junior selections you cold see him being p&r ballhandler. However he is strech PF on pro level

In comparison with Saric he is much more intelligent, taller and athletic. Saric is tougher. As juniors they can't compare because Bender is late bloomer. He didn't dominate juniors, he was not even playing last year, tough in 2014. he was best player in U-18 ec as 2nd youngest player in competition.

He is also late 97, makes him almost 98. born and by age he should be HS senior now

[UcanUwill]

Well, Saric did played PG in U-16. He had a famous triple double in the Finals against Lithuania.

Bender was good in 2014 U-18, but I wouldn't say he was top 5 player in the tournament. I remember seeing his break out game against Lithuania, that game boosted his stats quite a bit, but he also had few really bad games, like one against France or one against Italy. He averaged nearly 5 assists per game tho, so yeah, thats a sign of a really good passer right here, He also averaged over 2 blocks if I am not mistaken. I only seen that mentioned game against Lithuania, and he played PF, I have never seen Bender playing PG.

[pohani komarac]

As I said Bender played PG for Split and sometimes used as ballhadlar in P&R for Croatia. Bender had lot of Breakout games, like neer TD in 3rd place game. He was chosen in top 5. And he was first year junior, Saric and others dominated when they were 2nd year juniors. It's huge difference

[Mirotic12]

Some people should shout their mout on subject they don't know much

Dario Saric played as Pf all the time before turning pro. There him and coaches realised he can't play that on pro level and he become strech PF.

Dragan Bender in Split juniors and cadets played often as PG, also in Croatian junior selections you cold see him being p&r ballhandler. However he is strech PF on pro level

In comparison with Saric he is much more intelligent, taller and athletic. Saric is tougher. As juniors they can't compare because Bender is late bloomer. He didn't dominate juniors, he was not even playing last year, tough in 2014. he was best player in U-18 ec as 2nd youngest player in competition.

He is also late 97, makes him almost 98. born and by age he should be HS senior now

Exactly right. Neither Bender, nor Saric is a point forward. They can't play that at a pro level in Europe or NBA. The only thing I disagree with you on though is on Saric being a stretch four. He's not really a stretch four. Maybe he is only in terms of what American basketball refers to as a "stretch four", but definitely not in European basketball terms.

Bender is much more of a stretch four than Saric.

[Ell Curry]

Just to point out, Bender's per 40 numbers are better than expected. Here is what I have for per 40 averages for Bender and last year's Porzingis

Bender - 1.6 steals, 2.3 blocks, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 14.5 points, .57 TS
Porzingis - 1.7 steals, 1.9 blocks, 8.6 rebounds, 1 assists, 20.5 points, .58 TS

His combination of steals, blocks and assists is pretty good and his scoring could be worse. Notably Porzingis played twice the games and twice the minutes and had a real responsibility on his team.

But after looking at it I wouldn't call Bender's real numbers as disastrous enough to freak out about.

That looks very strong. Porzingis is a 4/5, so if Bender can similarly bother shots and just be an average instead of good rebounder, along with having an excellent passing and perimeter game, that's a very, very good 4 in the modern NBA. He certainly can move his feet and pass well for his size. Is he seen as a tough kid? He looks a bit weak on tape but he's tall, skinny and young and strength can take time.

[Damkac]

I was curious how would his stats looks when remove the games when he played just few minutes. So here are his averages from 15 games this year when he played 10+ minutes (EuroCup, Euroleague and Israel league). Per 36 numbers in the brackets.

Minutes - 17,4
Points - 7,6 (15,8)
Rebounds - 3,3 (6,8)
Assists - 0,8 (1,7)
Blocks - 1,2 (2,4)
Steals - 0,8 (1,6)
Turnovers - 0,8 (1,6)
Fouls - 2,6 (5,5)
Shooting:
2pt 22/40 55%
3pt 19/45 42%
FT 14/20 70%

For 18 years old playing against mature players those numbers looks promising but why he foul so much?

[bwgood77]

Just to point out, Bender's per 40 numbers are better than expected. Here is what I have for per 40 averages for Bender and last year's Porzingis

Bender - 1.6 steals, 2.3 blocks, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 14.5 points, .57 TS
Porzingis - 1.7 steals, 1.9 blocks, 8.6 rebounds, 1 assists, 20.5 points, .58 TS

His combination of steals, blocks and assists is pretty good and his scoring could be worse. Notably Porzingis played twice the games and twice the minutes and had a real responsibility on his team.

But after looking at it I wouldn't call Bender's real numbers as disastrous enough to freak out about.

That looks very strong. Porzingis is a 4/5, so if Bender can similarly bother shots and just be an average instead of good rebounder, along with having an excellent passing and perimeter game, that's a very, very good 4 in the modern NBA. He certainly can move his feet and pass well for his size. Is he seen as a tough kid? He looks a bit weak on tape but he's tall, skinny and young and strength can take time.

According to this he is...

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor.He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

“The kid is simply special,” a member of Maccabi’s coaching told The Vertical. “I’ve never been around someone that age with that kind of character. He’s not afraid of anything or anyone.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/european-dispatch--getting-to-know-dragan-bender-195451386.html

[doordoor123]

Just to point out, Bender's per 40 numbers are better than expected. Here is what I have for per 40 averages for Bender and last year's Porzingis

Bender - 1.6 steals, 2.3 blocks, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 14.5 points, .57 TS
Porzingis - 1.7 steals, 1.9 blocks, 8.6 rebounds, 1 assists, 20.5 points, .58 TS

His combination of steals, blocks and assists is pretty good and his scoring could be worse. Notably Porzingis played twice the games and twice the minutes and had a real responsibility on his team.

But after looking at it I wouldn't call Bender's real numbers as disastrous enough to freak out about.

That looks very strong. Porzingis is a 4/5, so if Bender can similarly bother shots and just be an average instead of good rebounder, along with having an excellent passing and perimeter game, that's a very, very good 4 in the modern NBA. He certainly can move his feet and pass well for his size. Is he seen as a tough kid? He looks a bit weak on tape but he's tall, skinny and young and strength can take time.

According to this he is...

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor.He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

“The kid is simply special,” a member of Maccabi’s coaching told The Vertical. “I’ve never been around someone that age with that kind of character. He’s not afraid of anything or anyone.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/european-dispatch--getting-to-know-dragan-bender-195451386.html

Yeah, he crashes offensive boards like crazy and has a great second jump. He also has good hands. I think he's going to be a beast. Not the same as Porzingis. Zingis settles for jumpers (as he should), but Bender has a more diverse post-game. He's a less talented shooter, but he can shoot. I've noticed he also struggles with speed because he plays too fast (like most young players) and he should be better once the game slows down for himself. Bender is going to be awesome.

[bwgood77]

Yeah, he crashes offensive boards like crazy and has a great second jump. He also has good hands. I think he's going to be a beast. Not the same as Porzingis. Zingis settles for jumpers (as he should), but Bender has a more diverse post-game. He's a less talented shooter, but he can shoot. I've noticed he also struggles with speed because he plays too fast (like most young players) and he should be better once the game slows down for himself. Bender is going to be awesome.

Yeah, I keep thinking in response to people saying "just because Porzingis doing well, doesn't mean..." that "hey, he may be a different player and he may be a better player. Don't compare him to KP, and I'm not hoping he is KP. He's his own guy...don't put the KP cap on him."

[Johnny Firpo]

He is comfortably a top 5 pick, right? I imagine after the relative success of Porzingis, not many team would want to pass on him. Simmons and Ingram will almost surely be picked in front of him but he should be close to these guys.

[wildvikeswolves]

I want this guy for the Wolves bad. Such a good fit with KAT and the rest of our young core. Not to mention a pretty awesome name

[NuggetsWY]

I want this guy for the Wolves bad. Such a good fit with KAT and the rest of our young core. Not to mention a pretty awesome name

Wouldn't mind him on my Nuggets but on the Twolves? Oh my goodness - that'd be a nice fit.

[TKainZero]

I want this guy for the Wolves bad. Such a good fit with KAT and the rest of our young core. Not to mention a pretty awesome name

Literally anyone the T-Wolves get is going to be great for them.
KAT and Wiggins are pretty versatile players,

[Greenraida]

Really want him on orlando. Would fix some issues for us.

[brackdan70]

does anyone know why he has played so little this year?

[Dr Positivity]

does anyone know why he has played so little this year?

From what I've seen/read seems like he is struggling physically. He rebounds like Skal and doesn't attack the rim on offense. Biggest thing he provides is spot up 3pt shooting

[Dr Positivity]

I just think a lot of the case for Bender relies on his style of play as a 3pt shooting PF who can defend/pass, and basically trying to get European Draymond Green type of player. But there's a reason if you take the top 20 players in the NBA 19 of them don't play like Draymond. You don't have to be that type of player to be an all-star, I'm more concerned about how good Bender is at being his type of player than that he is one

[OFWGKTA]

Is he gonna come to the NBA next year when drafted?

[Von Bismarck]

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/young-croatian-ready-shot-nba-fame-091401442--nba.html

Just a digression. Bender's not 213cm, Bender is 215cm (7 ft. 0,5') tall, barefoot. He grew 2 cm's in a year, those are last year's info.