How Dario Saric Has Quickly Become A Key Contributor
After showing their commitment to win now by trading Jordan Poole for Chris Paul, the major Warriors storyline through this summer’s free agency window was how else they could get better. The need for a big to play some rotational minutes was obvious, but they clearly never had their sights set on a traditional one who would just rebound, roll, and block the occasional shot.
The one name that kept coming up as free agency kept going was Paul’s former teammate Dario Šarić. The 6’10 forward/center from Croatia is a journeyman in the NBA: Initially drafted to the Philadelphia 76ers with a late lottery pick during their initial “Process” rebuild, Šarić is now in his 6th year in the NBA and has been a contributor everywhere he’s gone: He consistently posts an above-average mark from three, making him an ideal stretch big, as well as touting a career assist average that sits at just under 2 a game, which signifies his ability as a play connector. He was also pretty ecstatic to get to Golden State, having professed that he’s a fan of the system and shares confidence with the team that he’d be a great fit for it.
Šarić’s numbers this season have proven that’s the case, as they' are pretty on-par with what hoops fans have come to expect from him. He’s consistent with his offensive production and even when his shot’s not falling, he can impact the game as both a passing roll-man and crafty rebounder. He may not be an anchor of a shotblocker that’s going to be contesting the likes of a Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic, but he’s a smart defender who knows how to use his height and length to his advantage in the lane against opponents of that size. His biggest impact defensively will be in the role of an off-ball disruptor, something he’s shown a bit of prowess with so far on the tape.
Through this season’s first 8 games, Dario’s played about 18 minutes a contest, a number that varies based on the matchups these last 8 games have required. In those games, he’s slashing 41/40/80 percentages for just over 7 points per game, dishing out a hair lower than 2 assists, and grabbing about 6 and a half boards. What’s important about that last stat, however, is that over a third of his rebounds are on the offensive glass: He’s bringing in 2 a game. While shotblocking is generally the biggest thing people look for when it comes to a big’s contributions, Šarić’s offensive rebounding has been an asset in terms of generating second-chance points, something that really only Kevon Looney brought to the table prior: He’s a big reason why the Warriors are tied for 10th in total rebounding per game with the Orlando Magic, and are 5th in offensive rebounding per game.
These aren’t empty stats either, as he’s been good in key stretches of gametime throughout the last few tough contests. In Golden State’s thriller in Oklahoma City, Šarić became the first Warrior not named Stephen Curry to score 20 points in a game this season, most of which came during a key stretch at the end of the 1st quarter to stay afloat during the Thunder’s heater of a shooting night. He was a +14 despite going 2-for-7 against the New Orleans Pelicans, where him and Trayce Jackson-Davis were able to contain Zion Williamson in stretches. His only lackluster performance through the past 5 games was against the Cleveland Cavaliers where he only played 13 minutes, and was often the only big on the floor against Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen when Steve Kerr decided to try and beat their height with a smaller, speedier lineup (which didn’t pan out too well).
On a team where veteran experience is necessary for the sake of younger rotation players like Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga, Dario brings a championship run’s worth of experience from his time in Phoenix. Šarić played most of the games in that run, and while he only averaged about 10 minutes per contest, he held up very efficient 47/44/92 shooting splits while bringing his contributions in other areas. His role for the Warriors is similar to the one he had with the Suns, being a key bench player who the team can rely on to contribute and bring out the best of those around him. This kind of experience while still being on the early side of 30 helps him be a locker room presence to help bridge the gap between the vets and the younger guys.
With a versatile skillset that makes him a near-ideal modern big in today’s NBA, Dario Šarić has proven he’s a ready-made contributor to a team that has seriously needed one. The emergence of Trayce Jackson-Davis could mean that his role changes to a more matchup-based one depending on how quickly TJD can build on his early season flashes of success, but Warriors fans can not only expect to keep seeing Šarić on the floor, but can also expect him to keep contributing in a unique way that few on this roster can.
(Photo credit: Jeff Chiu / AP Photo)