Sixers draftee Saric loses six teeth
Dario Saric has teeth knocked out in FIBA World Cup game
THIS WEEKEND marked the beginning of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the first chance for Sixers fans to watch 2014 first-round pick Dario Saric of Croatia on a large, international stage. The 12th-overall pick has impressed, as Croatia holds a 2-1 record in Group B of the tourney.
Saric is averaging 27.3 minutes, 13.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per contest in three tournament games while shooting 51.7 percent from the field.
The skills that made Saric such an intriguing prospect to general manager Sam Hinkie have been on display: He is 6-10 and can play any position on the court due to his distributing abilities. He also has an increasingly consistent jumper, and solid rebounding skills.
His size and passing conjure images of fellow Croatian and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Toni Kukoc and two-time NBA champion point forward Lamar Odom.
One play that stands as Saric's most memorable of the weekend occurred in Sunday's win over Argentina. Saric reportedly lost six teeth after getting elbowed by Andres Nocioni, a former Sixer. Saric subsequently nailed a three-pointer and remained in the game.
His feisty nature of crashing the boards, diving for balls, arguing with referees and losing teeth will surely endear Saric to Sixers fans when he has the opportunity to join the Sixers in 2016.
- Shamus J. Clancy