After not getting what he came for at the inaugural NBA Awards show, Dario Šarić immediately shifted his attention towards the Croatian national team and the preparation for the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket.
Šarić has always been vocal about the importance of playing for the national team, and after he averaged a 15.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game as one of the focal points of the 76ers offense with Joel Embiid sustaining injury, it became obvious that the 23-year-old will have to face high expectations at the tournament ahead of him.
The three preparational games that took place last week have proven that he's up for the challenge, and that he is definitely in the same league as other top young European talents such as Giannis Antetonkounmpo and Kristaps Porzingis.
1. France vs. Croatia – 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists in 28 minutes
Despite the absence of Rudy Gobert, Joakim Noah, Tony Parker, and Nicolas Batum, the French national team still packs a lot of power with four NBA players – Joffrey Lauvergne, Boris Diaw, Evan Fournier, and Kevin Seraphin. However, Šarić's amazing all-around performance, coupled with 21 points off of Bojan Bogdanović put Croatia on top in a tight high-scoring affair. Dragan Bender, the Suns' young prospect whom Šarić believes would be a great frontcourt partner, also had a solid game with 11 points on just five shots.
2. Croatia vs. Lithuania – 28 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists in 26 minutes
With just a single day of rest, Dario Šarić put his extensive offensive arsenal on full display. He was giving the Lithuanian team headaches off of drives, from the post, at the perimeter, and from the charity stripe as well. He has also proven to be a reliable option in the clutch, denying the Lithuanians their comeback with five crucial points in the last 1:30. Jonas Valančiūnas, the key figure of the Lithuanian team, missed the chance to tie the game after missing two free throws with no time remaining. While Mindaugas Kuzminskas had a great game with 21 points in 27 minutes, the other Lithuanian NBA representative, Donatas Motiejūnas, failed to leave his mark on the game with just five points in 10 minutes played.
3. Croatia vs. Slovenia – 25 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists in 38 minutes
The game between next-door rivals took place in front of Šarić's home audience, who got to enjoy a showcase of current and future NBA talent. Both Šarić and Bogdanović played extended minutes as Aco Petrović, brother of the late Dražen Petrović and the current head coach of the Croatian NT, was locked-in on securing a win. The Homie was virtually unstoppable yet again on both sides of the floor, eventually leading Croatia to a 85-81 win. Goran Dragić scored just eight points, but the true highlight of the Slovenian team was Luka Dončić, touted as one of the brightest European prospects of all time and a potential number one pick in the 2018 Draft, who scored 27 points with six three-pointers.
While most players are taking their well-deserved time off or working on individual facets of their game during the summer break, Dario Šarić is working hard on another competitive front. Although most predict a sixth man role for him with the return of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, it remains to be seen how Brett Brown decides to incorporate Šarić's versatile skillset into the 76ers new gameplan.
There is no doubt, however, that those who trust the process are in for an amusing season filled with highlight reel plays and enjoyable personalities.
Follow Us
Subscribe