Philadelphia 76ers rookie big man Dario Saric has managed to find a niche with his new team this season. The Sixers sport a young, youth-inflexed core headlined by top overall picks Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, but also understand the importance of having significant, young under-the-radar talent surrounding the two.
One of those young up-and-comers is Saric, who’s currently in the midst of his first NBA campaign. At 22 years old, Saric has shown flashes of brilliance on the court this season, displaying his unique offensive capabilities on a nightly basis. He can shoot effectively from outside, pass efficiently, and rebound with purpose.
Most would agree that his primary weakness is how inconsistent his performances are, but that’s something that is expected to change as he ages. For Saric, right now, he’s just taking it all in.
“I am so excited right now,” Saric said, according to Bill Fay of CSNPhilly.com. “You work so hard and to see it finally pay off, you feel proud, just so proud.
“I have been trying to do something more than just score and tonight I feel like I did. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy. Maybe I’m wrong, but that is how I feel.”
Saric certainly added more than scoring in the Sixers’ 112-111 victory over Orlando on Thursday night, finishing the game with eight rebounds and three steals in addition to his 24 points.
While some young talent around the association are coping with trade rumors, wondering whether they are in a good situation, Saric hasn’t had to deal with any of this. His transition to the NBA has been a fluid one, and he seemingly hasn’t loved life more than he does now.
Dario Saric is improving as the year progresses — he’s averaging 14.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in February — and is expected to continue improving in the coming years. Being in a happy situation is a key factor in how players perform, as this situation demonstrates.
