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Sunday, 23 February 2020

Croats in NBA: Ivica Zubac Records Season-High 15 Rebounds

February 23, 2020 - LA Clippers’ center Ivica Zubac recorded a season-high 15 rebounds in the Clippers loss to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. 

The Clippers lost to the Sacramento Kings 103:112 in Los Angeles. Ivica Zubac, the Croatian center in the Clippers jersey, recorded 8 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, and one block in 20 minutes on the court, setting a new record for rebounds recorded in a single game this season.  

Zubac was just two points shy of a double-double. However, he has only scored double-digits once in the last ten games for the Clippers. 

Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points, while Sacramento was led by Kent Bazemore with 23 points, and De'Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic with 20 points each.

Croatia’s best basketball player Bojan Bogdanovic had one of his weaker nights in the NBA, and the Utah Jazz lost to Houston 110:120.

Donovan Mitchell was the best for Utah with 31 points, while Bogdanovic scored 12 points in 36 minutes on the court with a poor shots in play ratio of 3/10, adding six rebounds. Houston was led by James Harden with 38 points and Russell Westbrook with 34 points.

After a long time, Zizic and Saric returned to the court.

The currently worst Eastern Conference team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, lost to Miami 105:124. The Cavs center Ante Zizic scored 7 points in 8:35 minutes on the court for the Cavs after a long time.

On Saturday night, the Heat retired the jersey of Dwyane Wade, a Miami player who has participated in All-Star meetings 13 times and won the championship title three times.

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Chicago Bulls 112:104. Dario Saric played just under five minutes for the Suns, recording one rebound and one assist. Recall, Dario Saric had not played a single game in February due to an ankle injury. Before his injury, Saric was averaging career-low points per game this season. 

Source: Index.hr

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

Sunday, 19 January 2020

Croats in NBA: Bojan Bogdanovic Scores 30 Points for 9th Time this Season

January 19, 2020 - On Saturday night, 11 games were played in the NBA, with Bojan Bogdanovic and Dario Saric brilliant for their teams. 

Bojan Bogdanovic led the Utah Jazz with 30 points in a 123:101 home win over Sacramento. The Croatian basketball player played 31 minutes with 30 points (two-pointers 10/15, three-pointers 6/9, free throws 4/4), two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

In addition to Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert was also great for the Jazz with 28 points and 15 rebounds, as was Donovan Mitchell with 22 points and Jordan Clarkson with 20 points. In the ranks of the defeated Kings,  De'Aaron Fox was the best with 21 points.

Also outstanding was Dario Saric, whose Phoenix Suns celebrated somewhat surprisingly in Boston against the Celtics 123:119.

In 38 minutes spent on the court, Saric achieved a double-double with 13 points (two-pointers 6/12, three-pointers 1/4), 11 rebounds and five assists. The Suns were led by Devin Booker, who lacked one assist for the triple-double. He scored 39 points, ten rebounds and nine assists. Deandre Ayton tallied 26 points and 15 rebounds in the win.

The brilliant Marcus Smart scored 37 points for the Celtics, including 11 three-pointers. Jayson Tatum added 26 points with ten rebounds and Gordon Hayward scored 22 points.

The NBA's best Milwaukee Bucks celebrated 117:97 against Brooklyn, and Dragan Bender scored six points with six rebounds in 20 and a half minutes on the court.

The Los Angeles Clippers also defeated the Pelicans in New Orleans 133:130. Ivica Zubac had three points, three rebounds, and two assists in 15 minutes.

Oklahoma City defeated Portland 119:106 in front of its fans. Mario Hezonja played 28 and a half minutes for the guests, scoring four points with eight rebounds and one steal.

Eastern Conference 

Atlantic Division

1.  Toronto        28  14  .667   -
2.  Boston         27  14  .659   0  1/2
3.  Philadelphia   28  16  .636   1
4.  Brooklyn       18  23  .439   9  1/2
5.  New York       11  32  .256  17  1/2

Central Division

1.  Milwaukee      38   6  .864   -
2.  Indiana        27  15  .643  10
3.  Detroit        16  27  .372  21  1/2
4.  Chicago        16  28  .364  22
5.  Cleveland      12  31  .279  25  1/2

Southeast Division

1.  Miami          29  12  .707   -
2.  Orlando        20  23  .465  10
3.  Charlotte      15  29  .341  15  1/2
4.  Washington     13  28  .317  16
5.  Atlanta        10  33  .233  20

Western Conference

Northwest Division

1.  Denver         29  12  .707   -
2.  Utah           29  13  .690   0  1/2
3.  Oklahoma City  24  19  .558   6
4.  Portland       18  26  .409  12  1/2
5.  Minnesota      15  27  .357  14  1/2

Pacific Division

1.  LA Lakers      34   8  .810   -
2.  LA Clippers    30  13  .698   4  1/2
3.  Phoenix        18  24  .429  16
4.  Sacramento     15  27  .357  19
5.  Golden State   10  34  .227  25

Southwest Division

1.  Dallas         27  15  .643   -
2.  Houston        26  15  .634   0  1/2
3.  Memphis        20  22  .476   7
4.  San Antonio    17  23  .425   9
5.  New Orleans    16  27  .372  11  1/2

Source: HRT

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Sunday, 22 December 2019

Croats in NBA: Bogdanovic Records 10th Game with 25+ Points this Season

December 22, 2019 - Bojan Bogdanovic played another excellent game in the NBA this season, and as the top scorer, led the Utah Jazz to their fifth consecutive victory.

Away in Charlotte (114:107), Bogdanovic scored 26 points with 7/12 shots in play and 4/9 three-pointers, plus three rebounds and one assist. It was Bojan’s 10th game of the season in which he exceeded 25 points.

"I have never seen a player that whenever he receives the ball, everyone on the bench shouts for him to shoot. He usually does, especially at the right time," praised coach Quin Snyder.

Donovan Mitchell added 20 points, Rudy Gobert scored 17 with 19 rebounds, while Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 29 points.

Ivica Zubac played one of his best games this season, recording 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal in the Clippers 134:109 win against San Antonio. However, what was truly impressive was that Ivica scored from all seven attempts in play, which made up for missing two of his three free throws. Zubac spent 11 minutes on the court in the third quarter, though he usually goes out after the fifth, which is the best evidence of how well he played. 

In the spotlight, of course, was Kawhi Leonard, who achieved his first victory in San Antonio after an ugly breakup with the Spurs in the summer of 2018. Last season with Toronto, he lost on his return to the court, and this time he was welcomed with strong whistles and boos every time he touched the ball. Leonard led the Clippers with 26 points, while the Spurs' best was DeMar DeRozan with 24 points. Marko Samanic did not get a chance to play.

The Phoenix Suns lost at home to Houston 139:125. Dario Saric made a considerable effort for the Suns, though it was questionable whether he would play at all due to a leg injury. In less than 20 minutes on the court, he scored 10 points (5/9 shots in play) with five rebounds and one steal. James Harden scored 47points for the Rockets this time.

Mario Hezonja did not play in Portland's 113:106 win over Minnesota, which was the Timberwolves’ 10th consecutive defeat. Dragan Bender also didn’t get a chance in Milwaukee's win against New York (123:102), in which Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and ten assists.

Source: Index.hr, NBA

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Tuesday, 10 December 2019

Croats in NBA: Dario Saric Scores 20 Points in Phoenix Win

December 10, 2019 - Croatian basketball player Dario Saric scored 20 points in the Phoenix Suns victory, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 13 points in the Utah Jazz loss, and Ivica Zubac contributed 13 points to the triumph of his LA Clippers. 

HRT reports that the Phoenix Suns defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 125:109 on Monday and Saric just missed another double-double. In addition to the 20 points he scored in 32 minutes on the court, scoring 7/11 shots in play (three-pointers 2/6), he also recorded nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Devin Booker was the top scorer of the winning team with 26 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 24 points on his 24th birthday. Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 33 points and 15 rebounds. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder was better than the Utah Jazz 104:90, and Bojan Bogdanovic played 32 minutes and scored 13 points with a poor four shots in play from 17 attempts (three-pointers 3/7). Bogdanovic added five rebounds and one steal.

Dennis Schroder led Oklahoma with 27 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 and Chris Paul 16, while Utah's top scorer was Donovan Mitchell, who finished the game with 26 points. This is Utah's sixth defeat in the last eight games.

Ivica Zubac's LA Clippers outscored the Indiana Pacers 110:99 at home. The most credited for the win was Paul George, who scored seven three-pointers against his former team for a total of 36 points.

Montrezl Harrell added 26 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers playing without an injured Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac recorded 13 points with eight rebounds, two assists and one block in 21 minutes on the court. Malcolm Brogdon was the best in Indiana with 20 points.

The Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 110:88 at home. Kemba Walker scored 22 points for his team’s win, while the Cavaliers' best was Jordan Clarkson with 19 points. Ante Zizic played three minutes with two misses and no points scored.

The Milwaukee Bucks were better than the Orlando Magic 10:101 at home and reached their 15th straight win. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points for the Bucks and recorded 15 rebounds, while Khris Middleton added 20.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Croats in NBA: Bogdanovic Top Scorer for Jazz, Zubac Records Double-Double

November 19, 2019 - Croatian basketball player Bojan Bogdanovic was the best for the Utah Jazz in their defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, while Ivica Zubac registered a double-double in the victory of his LA Clippers. Dario Saric's Phoenix Suns lost to the Boston Celtics.

The Utah Jazz lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves at 102:112 at home, with Bojan Bogdanovic playing 31 minutes and scoring 18 points (shots in play 7/17, three-pointer 3/7) to be the team's top scorer. He added six rebounds and two assists. Donovan Mitchell finished the game with 17 points and Rudy Gobert with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 29 points, including seven three-pointers and 13 rebounds, while Jeff Teague added 21 points and 11 assists.

The LA Clippers celebrated against the Oklahoma City Thunder 90:88 at home, with Paul George scoring for the win 25.9 seconds before the final buzzer. 

Montrezl Harrell scored 28 points with 12 rebounds in the Clippers’ win, George added 18, and Zubac contributed 12 points (shots in play 4/8, three-pointers 0/1) and ten rebounds with one assist in 20 minutes on the court. This is his third double-double this season. Chris Paul was the best for Oklahoma with 22 points.

The Boston Celtics are back on a winning streak, defeating Dario Saric's Phoenix Suns 99:85 last night. The Croatian basketball player just missed a double-double, scoring nine points in 29 minutes on the court (shots in play 3/13, three-pointers 2/6) and recorded ten rebounds with three assists and two steals.

Jayson Tatum led Boston to victory with 26 points and 11 rebounds, Kemba Walker scored 19 points, while Devin Booker was the best for Phoenix scoring 20 points.

The Portland Trail Blazers lost to the Houston Rockets 132:108. James Harden and Russell Westbrook tallied 64 points. And while Harden scored 23 of his 36 total points in the first half, Westbrook nailed 15 of 28. In the second half, Westbrook registered 13 rebounds and ten assists, and Houston increased their winning streak to eight games.

CJ McCollum led the Trail Blazers with 25 points and Mario Hezonja scored one basket in nine minutes on the court and recorded five rebounds.

The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers at 123:105. Julius Randle scored 30 points for the New York win, while Kevin Porter Jr. was the best for the Cavaliers with 18 points, who also just recorded their fourth consecutive loss. Ante Zizic contributed to his team victory with five points (shots in play 2/4) and six rebounds in 20 minutes on the court. 

In the Dallas Mavericks' 117:110 home win over the San Antonio Spurs last night, Luka Doncic reached his sixth triple-double of the season, scoring 42 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Finney-Smith added 22 points for Dallas and Kristaps Porzingis 18 with ten rebounds. San Antonio's best was DeMar DeRozan, who finished with 36 points. Luka Samanic did not enter the game for San Antonio.

The Milwaukee Bucks outscored the Chicago Bulls 115:101. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points and recorded ten rebounds, while Dragan Bender did not enter the game.

Source: Gol.hr

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Wednesday, 13 November 2019

Croats in NBA: Dario Saric Plays Best Game in Suns Jersey

November 13, 2019 - Dario Saric scored 18 points on Tuesday night in the Phoenix Suns' defeat to the LA Lakers, while Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 12 points to the Utah Jazz victory.

The Phoenix Suns lost to the LA Lakers 115:123 at home. Saric played 35 minutes and in that time, scored 18 points (shots in play 7/11, three-pointers 4/6), adding seven rebounds and two assists.

The Lakers were too strong for Phoenix last night, with Anthony Davis scoring 24 points with 12 rebounds, Kyle Kuzma scoring 23 points, and Le Bron James adding 19 points and 11 assists. Devin Booker was the best for the Suns with 21 points and Aaron Baynes with 20.

Utah Jazz managed to beat the Brooklyn Nets at home 119:114, even though they were behind 15 points during part of the game. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 12 points in 30 minutes on the court (shots in play 5/13, three-pointers 1/3) and added four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Donovan Mitchell was the game's best scorer with 30 points, and Rudy Gobert added 18 points and 15 rebounds. Kyrie Irving was the best for the Nets with 27 points.

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers at 98:97 at home, and Joel Embiid scored 27 points with 16 rebounds in the win, which was his fifth double-double of the season. Embiid's dunk 13.2 seconds before the end brought Philadelphia the win.

Kevin Love and Jordan Clarkson each scored 20 points for the Cavaliers and Ante Zizic did not play. The Portland Trail Blazers lost 99-107 to the Sacramento Kings.

Mario Hezonja played 23 minutes and scored two points (shots in play 1/4, three-pointers 0/1) with three rebounds and two assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic led Sacramento with 25 points and ten assists, while Damian Lillard scored 27 points for Portland.

NBA Game Results played November 12:

Miami Heat - Detroit Pistons 117:108
Indiana Pacers - Oklahoma City Thunder 111:85
Philadelphia 76ers - Cleveland Cavaliers 98:97
Chicago Bulls - New York Knicks 120:102
Denver Nuggets - Atlanta Hawks 121:125
Phoenix Suns - Los Angeles Lakers 115:123
Utah Jazz - Brooklyn Nets 119:114
Sacramento Kings - Portland Trail Blazers 107:99

Source: HRT

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Friday, 8 November 2019

Croats in NBA: Ivica Zubac Records Double-Double in Clippers Win against Portland

November 8, 2019 - Ivica Zubac was better than Mario Hezonja last night in the Clippers' victory against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

The LA Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 107:101 on Thursday night, which saw Croatian basketball player Ivica Zubac contribute to the win with his second double-double performance of the season. 

Zubac finished the game with 15 points (shots in play 7/12), 13 rebounds, nine of which were on offense, one assist, and a steal and two blocks in 20 minutes on the court.

Kawhi Leonard, who returned to the court after a one-game break, scored 27 points with 13 rebounds for the 900th victory of LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers. Lou Williams added 26 points with eight assists.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were the best for Portland with 22 points each, while Mario Hezonja played 25 minutes and scored just two points with a catastrophic shot in play (1/9), though he was 3/3 on three-pointers, recorded five rebounds and one steal. 

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On Thursday night, Dario Saric also hit the NBA court and scored nine points in the Phoenix Suns defeat to the Miami Heat (108:124). Saric scored nine points (shots in play 3/9, three-pointers 2/7) and recorded four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Jimmy Butler led Miami with 34 points and Goran Dragic with 25 points. The Suns' top scorer was Aaron Baynes with 23 points, while Devin Booker scored 22.

The San Antonio Spurs outplayed the Oklahoma City Thunder 121:112, and LaMarcus Aldridge scored his season-best 39 points to help his team win the first game after two losses. Danilo Gallinari led Oklahoma with 27 points.

Luka Samanic did not enter the game for San Antonio.

In the last game played last night, the Boston Celtics outscored the Charlotte Hornets 108:87.

On Wednesday night, Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 20 points to the Utah Jazz win over the Philadelphia 76ers (106:104). Bogdanovic scored 20 points in 35 minutes (shots in play 9/18 shot, three-pointers 3/5) and added six rebounds, five assists, one steal ball, and one block. 

Source: HRT

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

Tuesday, 29 October 2019

Croats in NBA: Zubac Records Best Defensive Game Yet, Bogdanovic Scores 29 Points

October 29, 2019 - Clippers center Ivica Zubac played the defensive game of his career, while Bojan Bogdanovic's stellar start continues for the Utah Jazz. 

After an unexpected defeat to the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Clippers responded much better at home, where they easily topped the Charlotte Hornets 111:96.

Croatian center Ivica Zubac finished the game with 7 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes in the ranks of the Clippers, but had the best defensive night of his career as he recorded five blocks during that period. He has never recorded more in a single NBA game, reported Index.hr.

The Clippers were led by a fantastic Kawhi Leonard with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists. The Hornets were able to stay in the game until the end of the third quarter when the Clippers led by double-digits, though they were unable to return by the end of the match.

The Hornets thus recorded their third defeat in four games, while the Clippers reached their third win in four games.

Utah narrowly celebrated away at Phoenix on Monday night (96:95). Bojan Bogdanovic’s hot start continued in yet another excellent game in the Utah jersey. In 37 minutes on the court, he scored 29 points (4/5 two-pointers, 4/8 three-pointers, 9/9 free throws) with five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. Dario Saric played 21 minutes for Phoenix and scored 4 points (0/1 two-pointers, 1/1 three-pointers, 1/2 free throws) with one rebound and three assists.

San Antonio was better than Portland 113:110. Luka Samanic did not enter the game for San Antonio, and Mario Hezonja played 19 minutes for Portland and scored 8 points (0/2 two-pointers, 2/5 three-pointers, 2/2 free throws) with six rebounds, one assist, and one block.

Recall,  this comes two days after the biggest upset of the season so far, when Phoenix upset Los Angeles Clippers 130:122. Dario Saric had the better evening then and finished the game with a double-double (15 points and ten rebounds) in 34 minutes on the court, while Zubac added 7 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes, but only hit a weak one of four shots in play. 

Bogdanovic also led the Jazz with 26 points just two days ago against Sacramento, recording four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He hit five of nine two-pointers, two three-pointers, and one free throw. And all this despite an ankle sprain, which he suffered in his debut for the new club on Thursday night. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Sunday, 27 October 2019

Croats in NBA: Bogdanovic Leads Jazz, Saric Records Double-Double in Win Against Zubac

October 27, 2019 - Bojan Bogdanovic led Utah Jazz to a win against the Sacramento Kings, while Dario Saric recorded a double-double in the Suns' win against Ivica Zubac's LA Clippers. 

Nine NBA games were played on Saturday night, of which the biggest surprise happened in Phoenix, where the Suns topped the favored Los Angeles Clippers 130:122.

Index.hr reports that it was a duel of two Croatian national team players as Dario Saric and Ivica Zubac hit the court. Saric had the better evening and finished the game with a double-double (15 points and 10 rebounds) in 34 minutes on the court, while Zubac added 7 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes, but only hit a weak one of four shots in play. 

The Suns' best was Devin Booker with 30 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 27 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. This is the first time in Leonard’s career that he reached ten assists in a single game.

The Suns are certainly the most pleasant surprise of the season so far. Recall, in their season opener, they topped the Sacramento Kings, a team that is aiming for the playoffs this season, and then fell by a point to the Denver Nuggets, last year's semifinalists in the Western Conference. The Clippers are by many a major favorite for the title this season.

The Suns have not been in the playoffs since 2010 and are one of the worst NBA franchises in recent years. The season-to-season win-loss ratio is 40-42, 33-33 (shortened season due to lockouts), 25-57, 48:34, 39-43, 23-59, 24-58, 21-61 and 19 -63.

In his second Utah Jazz game, Bojan Bogdanovic proved why he is a considerable boost. Index.hr reports that in the win against Sacramento (113:81), Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 26 points. He also recorded four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He hit five of nine two-pointers, two three-pointers, and one free throw.

And all this despite an ankle sprain, which he suffered in his debut for the new club on Thursday night. Because of swelling, Bogdanovic missed the fight against the Lakers two days later. Coach Snyder made the decision to release him before the start of the game - and because of his injury, Babo played under restraint and did all this in just 24 minutes on the court.

Right from the start, he scored six points and then nailed a three-pointer for an 18-8 lead. Even then, Utah nearly settled the game, increasing their advantage by 35 at the end of the third quarter.

"He should keep taking some break games if he is going to come back like this," joked Mike Conley, Utah's other significant reinforcement this summer.

"He's a big part of our team, and when he goes, he goes. We play selflessly and constantly find him on the shot."

Jazz first star Donovan Mitchell scored 15 points and didn't mind being sidelined by the Croatian ace.

"It's great to see him so happy back on the court. He creates for himself and others, does a lot of things without the ball, pushes himself, draws a lot of attention and makes it easier for all of us," Mitchell said.

On the other side was the NBA’s second Bogdanovic, the Serbian Bogdan, who was one of the Kings' best players with 10 points.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Saturday, 19 October 2019

Record Number of Croats in NBA this Season: What Can We Expect?

October 19, 2019 - Croatia has never boasted more representatives in the world’s strongest basketball league than they have this season. However, the season ahead will also be decisive for the careers of our Croats in the NBA.

At first glance, one would think that Croatian basketball is a superpower, and that’s no surprise - in the upcoming season, they will have a record seven players in the NBA. This number is even higher than the world champions of Spain. But apart from Bojan Bogdanovic and Dario Saric, who else should be on our radar?

Gol.hr and Vid Horvat take a closer look at Croats in the NBA for the 2019/20 season.

Bojan Bogdanovic
(30 years old, 6 seasons, 19/20 contract worth $17 million)

Bojan Bogdanovic has been awarded the contract of a lifetime ($73 million over four years) and will have the opportunity to play an important role in a very serious Western Conference team, something he has never encountered thus far in his career. Bogdanovic should automatically enter the starting lineup as the small forward, where he can play alongside Jeff Green or Royce O'Neal, but he can also be used as a low four.

Why is this an excellent acquisition for Utah? Coach Quin Snyder has had issues with outside shooters in recent seasons and with virtually no one other than Ingles and Jae Crowder to shoot from outside the wing. Bojan was Indiana's biggest offensive threat last season after an injury to Victor Oladipo. He shot an incredible 42.5 percent for three-pointers and had a record average of 18 points per game.

Bogdanovic is an expressive shooter who can play without the ball in his hands, and Utah needs that. But his repertoire doesn't just stop at a three-point shot. Last year, he showed that he could be an effective mid-range shooter and is aggressive in counters. He even improved his pick and roll play, but still worked on it this summer. For the past three seasons, Bogdanovic has been part of a playoff team, but has never been surrounded by such good teammates.

Playing with Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell with the possibility of adding a third ball-handler in the starting five offers plenty of options. Bogdanovic will be able to contribute to the team in many ways, but the most significant contribution is expected in the shooting department. 

Dario Saric
(26 years old, 4 seasons, 19/20 contract worth $3.5 million)

It is perhaps a pivotal NBA season for Saric, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. After Philadelphia, he was no longer part of a system he could take advantage of. Unlike the Wolves, Saric should be in a better position with the Phoenix Suns, though it will all depend on him. Unless he makes good use of the minutes given, he will quickly find himself in the rotation behind either Frank Kaminsky or Cameron Johnson.

Like in previous NBA seasons, Saric can fill the four position, where he is currently ahead of Kaminsky and Johnson. However, Saric did not do well with the Wolves and their offensive system, which favored pick and roll and had more critical players than him involved in the attack. But he finished the season with a percentage of 45.4 of shots in play and a three-pointer percentage of 38.3.

These numbers are welcome in Phoenix, but he needs continuity and to avoid slow entry, which has been the case in recent years. Why is this important? The threat to Saric's position is not only the high post, but also Kelly Oubre Jr., who played the best games in the Suns' jersey in the four position. This is one of the variants we can also expect. In that case, Mikal Bridges would fill the other wing.

The Suns finally have a playmaker, and that's the best news ahead of the new season. Ricky Rubio should make it easy for everyone, including Dario. Saric's virtues are imagination and low-post play, and if there is more of a team game than individual play, it should suit him. Because of his future contract, this season must be above average for Saric.

Ivica Zubac
(22 years old, 4 seasons, 19/20 contract worth $6.5 million)

No other Croatian basketball player profited from a trade like Ivica Zubac. He left the turbulent Lakers without having to change cities and eventually ended up in an elite squad who is a serious contender for the title, where the thinnest rotation is in his position. Specifically, Zubac should be the Clippers' starting center who won't be needed much on offense, and at the same time, be able to progress by playing alongside some of the best players in the league like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Given that Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams function brilliantly in the other starting five, Doc Rivers will not break the bench. This means that if he decides to go with the small-ball five, JaMychal Green will start instead of Zubac, who has a better three-point shot and more mobility than the Croatian center.

The good news is that Zubac has an enormous desire to thrive and work. He wanted to work with the Gasol brothers this summer, as he would like to one day play like Marc for the Toronto Raptors, primarily paying attention to rebounds, communication on defense, and expanding the court. Unfortunately, their schedules did not align. However, Zubac is already working on his three-point shot and has specific characteristics that can be exploited.

Among the 50 centers that defended at least 50 possessions last season, Zubac allowed the second-fewest points per possession and the second-lowest shot percentage. He is also offensively good at finishing around the hoop and can shoot from a distance. Still, as the Clippers enter the season as one of the biggest favorites for the title, the primary goal will not be player development, but finding the ideal starting five and rotations.

Mario Hezonja
(24 years old, 5 seasons, 19/20 contract worth $1.74 million)

It will be a fresh start for Hezonja, who is still young enough to fulfill his potential. But in Portland, things work a bit differently than with his former teams. For one, Hezonja has not been part of a playoff squad so far and has not played with such dominant players that build the offensive attacks. Hezonja will be part of the second lineup in which he will have enough minutes to become a standard part of the rotation and will not have two or three more players competing for his place.

However, he will need to hit more than the desperate three-pointer percentage of 27.6 and the modest 41 percent for shots in play he recorded with the Knicks. Both are among his worst statistics since he arrived in the NBA. Plus, he could have more than 1.5 assists per game, as he has shown he knows how to set up plays. Hezonja will not be the playmaker as he was for New York, but as a secondary playmaker from the wing positions.

In his first four NBA seasons, Hezonja played for two weak teams. This will be his first time to be among a better quality group of players, which means that constant changes in the rotation and inconsistency in minutes will be a thing of the past. Portland has a clear game system, which will undergo some adjustments, but the hierarchy is basically known.

Dragan Bender
(21 years old, 4 seasons, 19/20 contract worth $1.68 million)

Recall, Dragan Bender was close to the Euroleague and signed for CSKA, but found a spot at the Bucks in the final moments. The first reactions were not pleasant, and if he gets minutes, he’ll only be waiting for an open three-pointer shot. However, Bender is much more than that, and his talent should not be limited to a spot-up shooter or position player.

However, contrary to expectations, he made good use of the minutes gained in the preseason. Milwaukee has not made radical changes and has retained much of last year’s lineup. But Bender is at the turning point of his career and must prove himself on a contract that is only partially guaranteed this season and not guaranteed next year.

The former fourth pick of the 2016 draft is currently consistent with the opportunities he has been receiving. He scored double-digits in his first four preseason games. He averaged 13 points with shots in play percentage of 60.7 and an astounding 53.8 three-pointer percentage in just over 18 minutes on the court. When we add six more rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game, we get his best career numbers. But these are just preseason games.

Bender has a few players ahead of him in the four and five positions and is unlikely to get more minutes than Ersan Ilyas, who is among Budenholzer's favorites. However, the Bucks' system suits Bender so far, and he can get his chance. 

Ante Zižic
(22 years old, 3 seasons, 19/20 contract worth $2.28 million)

During his final interview with general manager Koby Altman after the season, Ante Zizic was given a summer plan that presented a path that would eventually break Cleveland's deep rotation in high positions, more specifically at the center. Because despite their weak roster, the Cavs have by far the most players who can cover the starting lineup, like Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. and John Henson.

Considering that Love will be the starting four, there are again four players who need to split 48 minutes in the center. It will be important for Zizic not to look deep into the rotation, but to focus on himself. He will have to be ready to step up to any situation. According to recent information, he has worked hard this summer to get physically fit.

Last season, Zizic was at one point one of Cleveland's most productive players, but that was primarily due to injuries and the space that opened up. As soon as the Cavs were complete, Zizic lost his role. It's not going to be easy this year either, because there aren't many advantages over Thompson and Nance Jr.

Luka Samanic
(19 years old, rookie season, 19/20 contract worth $2.69 million)

Samanic is a gifted player who has arrived in the best possible environment to thrive. The San Antonio Spurs are known for their program with young players and recognizing talented Europeans, while during the Summer League, Samanic showed he has the potential to work with and meet modern requirements. Admittedly, Samanic has made a significant transition in his career. He went from the ABA league to the strongest league in the world and is expected to be gradually introduced into the process.

The former Barcelona and Olimpija player will need time to develop, and will begin in the G-League with the Austin Spurs. However, it is not impossible to see him on the first-team bench for the first time. His style of play is similar to Lauri Markkanen's, a great example of how modern wing center should look. Both are light on their feet, have proper shooting mechanics, and can expand the court. 

Samanic has already shown the prospect of one day becoming an outstanding shooter, but there are more elements to work on. To fulfill his potential, he will need to be able to put up solid blocks, be dangerous with the ball, and hit open shots for three-pointers. In addition, he showed aggression in his dribbling and is quick in catch-and-shoot situations. For starters, it will be important to gain mass and transition as painlessly as possible.

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