After a decade in the NBA without fully showcasing his potential, Dario Saric is ready to return to the EuroLeague.
The 31-year-old Croatian forward was waived by the Detroit Pistons after being included in the trade that sent Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls. He is currently with the Croatian national team preparing for the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
“It’s always great to wear this jersey, in good times and in difficult ones as well. The Croatian national team is the greatest thing for all of us,” Saric said.
Looking ahead to the upcoming clash against Germany, he emphasized the level of the opposition: “They are still the European champions, even without their NBA players. They have guys who want to establish themselves and be part of a national team that is always fighting for medals. It won’t be easy. I hope we prepare well and, especially in the first game in front of our home crowd, play a real game.”
“We will step on the court with the right mentality — maximum focus and maximum effort from the start. With that approach, we can expect a good result.”
Asked about his ten years in the NBA, Saric reflected: “Sometimes you find yourself in certain situations, like when Ben Simmons got injured in my rookie year and I immediately got the opportunity to play big minutes. Later on, maybe I didn’t get that same chance in the starting lineup. That’s something I’ll reflect on at the end of my career. It could have gone better or worse. I’m happy, and I hope to play at a high level for a few more years. Right now, my main goal is to return to the EuroLeague — to find a team and a system that fits me and allows me to readjust to European basketball”.
With the EuroLeague transfer window closing tomorrow, it will soon become clear whether Saric will be among the protagonists of the competition’s final stretch.
Over his NBA career, the forward averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 22 minutes per game.
Commenta
Visualizza commenti