Chris Paul arrived in San Francisco knowing at least one thing very well: Dario Saric. The two men played together in Phoenix. They even had an NBA final with the Suns in 2021, even if the second injured his cruciate knee ligament in the first meeting of the series against the Bucks.
“ Dario is just a good guy, a good teammate. He was a big part of our Phoenix team until he got hurt, and I think we have a lot of guys on the team that play with a vengeful spirit of some sort or with something to prove. », judge CP3.
It must be said that since his serious knee injury, the Croatian has had a blank season, then a lackluster recovery in Arizona before being transferred during the season to the Thunder. “ When I found out I was coming here and I talked to Mike (Dunleavy) the opportunity to play with Dario… There are guys who fit very well into a team, I think Dario fits the way we want to play », Continues the former Suns playmaker.
His mobile interior profile, capable of penalizing from afar (36% at 3-points in his career) and of reading the game correctly has something to suit the Californians’ game.
“ He brings us some size, and he also knows how to play in a moving attack style. He did it a little bit in his national team play this summer, but even in Phoenix when he was with CP, I talked to him about the way he sees the game. It’s very similar to the way we play », Confirms Stephen Curry.
Good reflexes in the game
The latter has already had the opportunity to get an idea of his intelligence on the pitch, in training. “ Someone served him and he immediately did hand holding with me without me having to say anything. This is one of the elements of playing good basketball that he masters without you having to tell him. It’s a good start in a role that we really need because he knows how to play », appreciates the shooter.
In addition to this “dribble handoff” for the local gunners, Joel Embiid’s ex-racquet partner at the 76ers will be able to play the “pick-and-roll” or “pop” with the new Warriors leader, Chris Paul. “ He really knows how to find me in certain situations “, says about him Dario Saricwho adds having set a lot of screens for the leader in the past, before cutting to the circle.
This already existing technical relationship will only be beneficial to the Warriors, for whom Dario Saric already feels that “ the energy is different. Sometimes when you come into a team, especially training camp, it’s a bit of a mess. Everyone wants to prove themselves. But here, it’s a bit like everyone knows how it works. Everyone has to find a way to fit in. […] You don’t have to prove anything. »
| Dario Saric | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | PHL | 81 | 26 | 41.1 | 31.1 | 78.2 | 1.4 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 12.8 |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 78 | 30 | 45.3 | 39.3 | 86.0 | 2.0 | 4.7 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 14.6 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 81 | 25 | 43.7 | 36.5 | 88.0 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 5.7 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 10.6 |
| 2018-19 * | MIN | 68 | 24 | 45.4 | 38.3 | 87.5 | 1.5 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 10.5 |
| 2018-19 * | PHL | 13 | 31 | 36.4 | 30.0 | 90.0 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 11.1 |
| 2019-20 | PHX | 66 | 25 | 47.6 | 35.7 | 84.4 | 1.5 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 10.7 |
| 2020-21 | PHX | 50 | 17 | 44.7 | 34.8 | 84.8 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 57 | 14 | 45.8 | 39.1 | 82.9 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 6.4 |
| 2022-23 * | PHX | 37 | 14 | 42.7 | 39.1 | 81.8 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 5.8 |
| 2022-23 * | OKAY | 20 | 14 | 51.5 | 39.1 | 84.4 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 7.4 |
| Total | 413 | 24 | 44.3 | 36.0 | 83.8 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 5.6 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 11.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
