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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. 

Saturday, 23 November 2019

Croats in NBA: Bojan Bogdanovic Brilliant in Utah Win against Golden State

November 23, 2019 - Bojan Bogdanovic led the Croatian basketball players in the NBA on Friday night, scoring 17 points for the Utah Jazz. 

Utah Jazz defeated the 2019 NBA runners-up, the Golden State Warriors, 113:109 on Friday night, and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 17 points for the hosts with five rebounds and three assists.

Bojan Bogdanovic was Utah's third-best scorer after Donovan Mitchell (30 points) and Mike Conley (27 points). It was Conley and Bogdanovic who brought Utah to 16:2 in the second quarter, which stopped Golden State early in the game. 

The Warriors were without Draymond Green and used only eight players in the game. Utah is 10-5 sixth in the Western Conference, and Golden State, with just three wins and 14 losses, is the worst in the league.

There was panic in Salt Lake City after the game, when a suspicious package was found at the Vivant Arena, forcing Bojan Bogdanovic and his teammates to be evacuated. Fortunately, the message turned out to be fake. 

The LA Clippers celebrated against the Houston Rockets 122:110, with Ivica Zubac racking up 8 points, five rebounds, and two assists. The game was decided by Kawhi Leonard (24 points), who scored 15 seconds before the final buzzer, while the hero of the victory was Lou Williams, who scored all 26 points in the second half.

James Harden (37 points, 12 assists) and Russell Westbrook (22 points) were the best for Houston, which is third in the Western Conference (11:5).

Thanks to a triple-double performance by Nikola Jokic (18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists), Denver celebrated 106:102 against Boston, making the Nuggets second in the West with a ratio of 11-3. The Western Conference is led by the Lakers (13-2), who celebrated 130:127 against the Oklahoma Thunder. Anthony Davis (33 points) and LeBron James (23 points, 14 assists) led the Lakers, who won 13 of their last 14 games.

The Dallas Mavericks were better than the Cleveland Cavaliers (143:101). Croatian Ante Toni Zizic scored 7 points and three rebounds. The great Slovenian player Luka Doncic (30 points, 14 assists), has scored 30 or more points for the third game in a row. Furthermore, Dallas has scored over 140 points for the second game in a row.

Source: T.portal

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. 

Saturday, 9 November 2019

Croats in NBA: Bogdanovic Becomes Utah Jazz Hero after Hitting Buzzer-beater to Win

November 9, 2019 - Bojan Bogdanovic became the hero of the Utah Jazz on Friday night. Not only was he their top scorer of the game with 33 points, which is his record for the season, but he also scored a three-pointer at the final buzzer to win 103-100 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

His fifth three-pointer of the game came after a series of team mistakes at the end of the game. Donovan Mitchell really should have settled the win, but George Hill stole the ball and called a time out with 2.3 seconds left. The possession went to the Bucks' side, but Khris Middleton also failed to score 1.3 seconds before the buzzer.

Joe Ingles carried the ball, Babo ran into the corner, received it, and nailed a three-pointer at the sound of the final buzzer. Salt Lake City erupted into joy. 

"I was surprised to receive a standing ovation of the whole arena, regardless of the shot to win. It was a great atmosphere, like in a playoff game,” Bogdanovic said.

After the game, Bojan revealed that Mike Conley was meant to shoot to win, but Bojan demanded the action goes to him. The two agreed, and coach Quin Snyder blessed the deal. 

"That's what is great about this team. The coach listens to what the players have to say because we're on the court and we execute. Conley should have gone in that corner, but I asked him to take his place on the high quadrant, so I had the option to slip into the corner,” Bojan said. 

Bojan said it is a pleasure to play in teams like the Jazz.

"I'm surrounded by a great group of guys who are selfless players. Quin is a great coach who knows how to fit you into a system with a lot of organized action. I didn't like that on other teams," Bogdanovic said.

Conley praised Bojan one more time.

"He is still showing the world what he's capable of. A lot of people don't know how good he is," the Jazz player concluded. 

In 37 minutes on the court, Bogdanovic scored 33 points, hitting 9/19 shots in play, 5/10 three-pointers, and all ten free throws. He even recorded five rebounds.

The Croatian ace was the best for the Jazz, although on the other side of the court was current MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo who hit 30 points and 13 rebounds.

Giannis scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half, giving the Bucks the only lead of the game 89-88, but fouled out shortly after. 

Dragan Bender has yet to make his Milwaukee debut.

Source: Index

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

Wednesday, 6 November 2019

NBA Croatian Heritage Night to be Held at Madison Square Garden and Staples Center

November 6, 2019 - Croatian Heritage Night will be held during two different NBA games this season, at Madison Square Garden in New York and the Staples Center in Los Angeles. 

The NBA features a record number of Croatians this season, with seven taking the court to be exact. Thus, multiple times this season, we’ll find our players up against one another, which has prompted the creativity of certain teams. 

Namely, after the NY Knicks successfully hosted Croatian Heritage Night last season, which featured Klapa Astoria and folk dancing by Lindo when Mario Hezonja welcomed then Indiana Pacers’ star Bojan Bogdanovic, the NY club has announced the return of Croatian Heritage Night on November 18, 2019. 

“Join the New York Knicks for a Croatian Heritage Night on November 18th against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Ante Žižić! This offer provides special savings off of individual game tickets.

The first 300 purchasers from this link will receive a Croatian Heritage specialized t-shirt! After completing the simple checkout process, share your personal link with friends and family so they can join you at the game,” reads the description of the event,  which you can find more information about here. 

The LA Clippers have also caught the Croatian fever and announced their own Croatian Heritage Night after Christmas when Ivica Zubac faces the Croatia national team captain, Bojan Bogdanovic, and the Utah Jazz. 

“LA Clippers present Croatian Heritage Night: Saturday, December 28, 2019, vs. Utah Jazz at 7:30 PM. Order your tickets online, use promo code "CROATIAN", and receive a Commemorative Croatian Heritage Shirt. We look forward to seeing you at the game!”

Anyone interested in watching the Croatian clash at the Staples Centre next month can find more information here. 

The first Croatian Heritage Night hosted by the NY Knicks saw over 700 Croatians attend, so it'll be interesting to see what the new season brings. 

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. 

Thursday, 24 October 2019

Croats in NBA: Bojan Bogdanovic Brilliant in Jazz Season Opener

October 24, 2019 - Croatian basketball player Bojan Bogdanovic was the second-best scorer in the Utah Jazz victory on Wednesday. 

Gol.hr reports that Bojan Bogdanovic was brilliant in Utah Jazz’s seasoner opener, as the team went on to win 100-95 in their first game against Oklahoma City Thunder.

While it wasn't his day for three-pointers (1/5), Bogdanovic made great use of the plays set up for him and nailed five out of nine two-pointers, eventually finishing with 16 points in 24 minutes on the court. Bogdanovic was Utah’s was second-best scorer after Donovan Mitchell, who scored 32 points.

The Utah Jazz was concerned about Bogdanovic's ankle injury in the second quarter, which saw him limp off to the dressing room. Still, after consulting with the medical team, he returned to the court and played in the second half.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the best for the Thunder with 26 points, while Chris Paul added 22 with eight assists. The team's biggest star praised Bogdanovic in his pre-game interview. 

“One of the most underrated reinforcements is Bogdanovic. He’s great and knows how to play,” Paul said the day before the game.

In addition to Bogdanovic, Dario Saric also hit the court on Wednesday, scoring seven points with four rebounds in 21 minutes in the Phoenix Suns' victory over the Sacramento Kings 124-95.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 22 points and ten assists, Kelly Oubre added 21 with nine rebounds, while Deandre Ayton scored 18 with 11 rebounds. Buddy Hield scored 28 points for the Kings.

Mario Hezonja played in the defeat of the Portland Trail Blazers to the Denver Nuggets (108-100) and scored two points with four rebounds. Nikola Jokic led the winners with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Damian Lillard scored 32 for Portland.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs also played on Wednesday. Cleveland topped the Orlando Magic 94-85, though Ante Zizic did not play. San Antonio beat the New York Knicks 120-11, while Luka Samanic stayed on the bench. 

In the most unlikely game played last night, the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrated at home after extra time against the Brooklyn Nets 127- 126.

Kyrie Irving scored 50 points in his Brooklyn debut. Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 36 points and 14 rebounds.

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

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

From Citluk to the NBA: Story of Ivica Zubac

October 23, 2019 - The 22-year old Croatian basketball player Ivica Zubac dreamt of playing for the local Brotnja team in his hometown of Čitluk in front of 1,000 people, but that never became a reality. Today, a different dream turned into reality.

First, Zubac was drafted in June 2016 to the Los Angeles Lakers, but now he is a member of their rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, and is ready to take the NBA by storm. 

Many NBA fans hadn’t heard of Ivica Zubac before 23 June 2016 when the Lakers selected the 7'1" center as the 32nd pick in the Draft, but this season he should be the Clippers' starting center. 

Zubac grew up in Citluk, a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina that is just east of the Croatian border. Even though he has duel citizenship, Zubac identifies 100 percent as a Croatian. 

"I live in the part of Bosnia-Herzegovina, where we are the only Croatians, and we are the proudest in the world," said Zubac for nba.com in February 2017. "Croatia means everything to us." 

At the age of 7, Zubac started practicing together with older kids up to age 15. Just like everyone from his town, he wanted to be just like Zoran Planinic, a former professional basketball player who played for the New Jersey Nets in the NBA and who happens to be Zubac’s second cousin on his father’s side. 

Soon enough, with a lot of practice, Zubac started playing really good and scoring 30 or 40 points per game for Brotnjo where he used to play as a youngster. His good performances didn’t go unnoticed as Cibona, a top Croatian League club, invited him to play in a tournament when he was 13. 

Zubac said in 2017: “So we went to a tournament in Hungary, and I didn't do much. I scored like two points in five games, and I was thinking, ‘Oh man, I didn't do good, they aren't going to take me.’ But then they called me for another tournament in the middle of the season and I played better. And then for another tournament, and I played better again. Then they asked me to move there and start high school in Croatia. 

When I started to play basketball, the gym in Citluk was always full of 1,000 people, and my only dream was to play in front of those people with Brotjo for the senior team.” 

Zubac didn’t start well as for his first two years, nobody paid attention to him. When he was 15, he started playing better. However, he had an injury and missed a year. He started slowly coming back at the age of 17 when Cibona loaned him to a Croatian First Division Team, Velika 

Gorica, where he averaged 16 or 17 points per game. He was brought back to Cibona on loan, but still didn’t play much. Unexpectedly, that summer came his arrival moment. 

Zubac explained two years ago: “I was supposed to be the backup center for the Croatian National Team at the Under 19 World Championships. But the expected starter got injured, and I started and played really good. I think I was the second or third scorer in the championships. We made it to the final and barely lost to the USA in overtime. After that, everybody knew. I realized, wow, I (really) can go to the NBA one day.” 

The following season, Cibona promised Zubac that he would play a lot, but he sprained his MCL and was out for two months. On his return, he didn’t play much, so he asked his agent to change the team, and in February 2016, Zubac joined Mega Leks in the Serbian League. A few months later, he entered the Draft, despite a lot of scouts telling him to stay one more year in Europe. 

“But I told my agent my dream was to play in the NBA, in the best league against the best players. I wanted to prove myself. And I didn't want to waste a year. A lot of things could happen. I could get injured, who knows? So I said I'm going to the NBA right now, as soon as they draft me,” Zubac said in 2017. 

Zubac was selected as the 32nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Lakers. On 7 July, he signed with the Lakers and joined the team for the 2016 NBA Summer League. In his rookie season, he started only 11 games but managed to write his name in the history books. 

On 13 March 2017, in a 129-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Zubac became the youngest player in the Lakers history with 25 points in a double-double. That night at the age of 19, he scored 25 points and made 11 rebounds and achieved history, but Zubac still put his team first. 

“The record means nothing, I scored 25, but we lost by 30 points. It does not mean anything. I would score 5 points and contribute to a win than score 25 and lose”, Zubac said that night. 

Two weeks later, he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a high ankle sprain in his right ankle. The following season, Zubac had multiple assignments with the South Bay Lakers, the Lakers’ NBA G League affiliate, due to limited playing time in the regular season. 

In his last season for the Lakers, Zubac appeared in 33 games (12 starts), averaging career-highs in points (8.5), rebounds (4.9), field goal percentage (.580) and free-throw percentage (.864) in 15.6 minutes. 

However, the Croatian didn’t stick with Lakers for too long as the Clippers acquired him and forward Michael Beasley from Lakers in exchange for center Mike Muscala in February of this year. This season, Zubac should be the Clippers’ starting center and he already began the season on a positive note. In the last night’s opening game of the season, Zubac was a starter for the Clippers in their 112–102 win over his former team, Lakers. The Croatian had eight points on perfect 4/4 shooting in 10 minutes spent on the court.

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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