As the NBA season enters the All-Star break, Dario Šarić of the Philadelphia 76ers and Mario Hezonja of the Orlando Magic have been on fire of late.
Šarić is starting for the 76ers, who are currently sitting 7th in the East, which is enough to make the playoffs. Šarić was a finalist for NBA Rookie of the Year last season but just fell short of the award to the Milwaukee Bucks’ Malcolm Brogden. The 23 year-old Šibenik native is averaging 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds to go with his .451 shooting percentage. On Monday, Šarić scored a game high 24 points in a 108-92 win over the Knicks to go alongside shooting 8-12 from the field and 4 of 6 from downtown. With an aging Bojan Bogdanović entering the twilight of his career, Šarić appears to be the future of Croatian basketball; who can’t seem to get past the Round of 16 in the past two international tournaments.
Orlando’s Mario Hezonja has heated up lately. The 2015 5th overall pick already had his option declined by the Magic which will make him a free agent in the summer. There were high hopes for the 22 year-old kid from Dubrovnik but he hasn’t quite panned out yet. Hezonja scored 21 points against the Hornets in a loss Wednesday night and has played surprisingly well since earning a starting spot. In his last 10 games, Hezonja is shooting 50% from the field and averaging 16 points. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good.
Even 20 year-old Phoenix Suns 2016 4th overall pick Dragan Bender is getting some valuable time and doing something with it. Although he plays for one of the worst teams in the league, Bender is averaging 28 minutes on the floor and 9.5 points with 46% shooting in his last 10 games.
The young guns are finally putting it together in the NBA. Only Lakers’ Ivica Zubac and Cavaliers’ Ante Žižić have been riding the bench for the majority of the season; going up and down between the NBA and G-League. Both 7-foot big men will be 21 years old in the summer and will need to build up their patience until the call comes to perform. Žižić gets to watch one of the greatest of all time play the game- Lebron James. Hopefully that will drive him for the future.
Bojan Bogdanović is having a quiet season in Indiana after signing a new deal in the offseason. The 28 year-old Croatia veteran is averaging 13.7 points in 57 games this season. The move to the Pacers gave Bogdanović a starting spot but he hasn’t fulfilled his potential. Indiana is currently 6th place in the east with Bogdanović the only Croatian in the league with playoff experience- last year with the Washington Wizards.
If this current crop of Croatian players can maintain their game in the NBA and put it together correctly in a Croatian jersey, the future is bright.
But for right now, Croatian basketball is still chasing 1992.
Hezonja is better than both Fournier and Terrence Ross.
If you don’t believe me, then go ask the Orlando fans on the message boards. All Hezonja haters gave turned a complete 180.
He should have never been benched behind Ross and Fournier in the first place.
Orlando management have already admitted to the media that they made a big mistake in not picking up the option. They are still trying to keep him this summer, but some team will offer him money.
Despite playing out of position (most of his minutes are at PF) he has been putting up great numbers.
He actually did okay in his rookie year, despite being yanked constantly. Now it turns out that he had an injury all last season. Then he has this sudden bounce back season, despite being play out of position.
It all makes sense. I’ve watched some of his games (and even in the games he’s not shooting well) he’s looking legit. I think he will be fine.. Now I just hope Bender continues to play well.
Isn’t Hezonja the guy who refused to play for the national team this past summer?
I hope he fails.
Big men with poor mobility get ruined in the playoffs due to their poor pick and roll defence. Sorry, but I don’t see Zubac or Zizic getting real minutes on a quality team. Bender on the other hand looks quite mobile and should be good once he puts on some muscle.
^ me
scared to buy into hezonja
his situation is no good
when they were fully fit he was a DNP at full strength
we will see what happens when Gordon comes back
magic front office made a terrible move letting Elfiried go