The Jazz’s trip to San Antonio last Wednesday had a special flavor for at least two members of the team. For Will Hardy first, who found a second time this season his former club and the coach of which he was the assistant for five years, Gregg Popovich. But also for Luka Samanic.
The latter, who had played his first two seasons in the Big League with the Spurs, was now the holder of a ten-day contract with the Salt Lake City team. “ It’s crazy how God does things. It’s really strange, but I’m happy. Second chances don’t come quickly or easily », confides the interested party to the Deseret News.
“Strange” coincidence indeed for him, who had not stepped on an NBA floor since May 2021 and returned to his old floor. The Croatian, author of 9 points (but 2/8 on shots), 9 rebounds and 4 assists that night, had a chaotic start to his career despite his status as the 19th choice in the 2019 Draft. During his rookie season, he only made three appearances for Spurs and mostly played in the G-League.
He was more mobilized during his second season but without finding a stable place in Gregg Popovich’s rotation. As a result, the inside was cut in October 2021 before being drafted by the Knicks, where he never played.
Rather than aiming for a return to Europe, he clung to his NBA dream by playing this season with the Maine Celtics in the G-League where he was shooting at 22 points per game. Despite his initial failure with the Texans, Luka Samanic is holding ” to thank the Spurs. Even though I got cut, I think it was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It made me who I am today and I learned a lot about myself. »
A necessary journey
” A first experience somewhere does not work for everyone. For some, the click takes place with the second or the third team. And I think he’s one of those, because he’s a great boy. And I would like him to succeed. You know, Danny Green is a player that we cut two or three times, and he ended up becoming a great player for us. “recalls Gregg Popovich in comparison.
In addition to working on his shooting and his physique, the Croatian has thus started to work on his attitude, to express himself more on the pitch, to come out of his shell and to get to know his teammates better. So many factors likely to earn him his place in the Jazz workforce, like Kris Dunn before him.
Will Hardy believes that this winding course was necessary. Being drafted in the first round as the coach puts it, ” you may think things are going to be easier than they are and deserve some things that you may not have earned yet. Being cut, going to the G-League and being deprived of it all gives a new perspective on the line between being in the NBA and being left out. He knows it was painful at the time to be pushed aside, but he gained a new perspective and I think that’s what he needed to refocus and change his approach. »
| Luka Samanic | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 3 | 16 | 31.3 | 37.5 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 5.3 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 33 | 9 | 44.8 | 27.9 | 55.2 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 3.7 |
| 2022-23 | UTH | 2 | 19 | 33.3 | 16.7 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 6.5 |
| Total | 36 | 10 | 43.0 | 29.4 | 57.6 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 3.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
