76ers have another Rookie of the Year candidate in Saric
Just because one Philadelphia 76ers Rookie of the Year candidate is out for the season with a knee injury doesn’t mean the Sixers don’t have another Rookie of the Year candidate on the roster.
They do. It’s 6-10 forward Dario Saric, who averages 11.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists, and has improved steadily since the start of the season.
Saric, a 22-year-old Croatian, was drafted with the No. 12 pick in 2014, but spent two seasons in Turkey’s top pro league before joining the NBA this season. He has improved each month, and since Jan. 1, he's averaging 13.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists. His overall season shooting percentages (40.2% from the field, 31.1% from three) need improvement, but that should come with his development as long he’s willing to work, and it sounds like he is.
“If you practice hard every day and if you come to every practice 100% to focus on your development and to improve your game, sometimes things just happen,” Saric told USA TODAY Sports. “Talent means nothing if you don’t want to work.”
Sixers rookie center Joel Embiid was the runaway favorite to win the award, but that was before his season came to an end last week when the Sixers announced the meniscus tear in his left knee is more pronounced than what was previously thought, according to the most recent scan.
His absence has re-opened the race for the award. Embiid may still receive votes even though he played in just 31 games and less than 800 minutes. Other voters will look at players who played in a majority of his team’s games and saw significant minutes.
Saric, who is the No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports NBA rookie rankings, is one of those guys, with 63 games played and 1,594 minutes recorded (25.3 per game).
On defense, he can block shots, protect the rim and rebound. On offense, Saric, who is tied for the rookie lead in double-doubles with nine, has an array of skills, starting with his passing and exceptional court vision.
While his father (Predrag) played pro basketball with the late, great Drazen Petrovic, Saric gravitated toward Magic Johnson highlights as a kid.
“I was watching him so much,” Saric said. “I learned to share the ball. To make it fun on the court, passing is the most important thing in this league.”
He has a nice pump-fake move from the top of the key that allows him to drive to the lane and finish at the rim. He has good hands, knows how to move on the court and is able to lead the fastbreak after collecting a defensive rebound.
Following Philadelphia’s 105-102 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday, Sixers coach Brett Brown told reporters, “We all should feel very proud that how can it not be the Rookie of the Year goes through Philadelphia? Say it any way you want, I am proud of what he has been doing. Tonight it validates some of the layers to making that comment even more true.”
Just think if Ben Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, played this season. The Sixers might have had three rookie of the year candidates.