The Jazz trusts the Europeans for its positions of strong winger, even winger. In addition to Finn Lauri Markkanen and Italian Simone Fontecchio, the Salt Lake City franchise intends to rely on Luka Samanic. According to Adrian Wojnarowskithe Croatian is tied to Jazz until the end of next season, with a partially guaranteed contract.
This agreement should allow the 23-year-old to be present at the team’s next “training camp”, but the Jazz will be able to cut it ahead of the 2023/24 season. With this in mind, Luka Samanic plans to recharge his batteries soon with his family, in his native country, before returning to train in Utah.
” I have a lot of work to do this summer. I will ask the coach and do whatever is asked. Shooting, defending, whatever… whatever they want », displays inside. A speech that has something to please Will Hardy.
” He arrived with a different level of maturity compared to what it takes to really stay in the league […] Not that he wasn’t like that the last time I knew him. He was just young and immature and came from the other side of the world. We are very happy to have him back and it will be great to work with him this summer. “, Appreciates the former assistant of Gregg Popovich at Spurs, where Luka Samanic took his first steps in the league.
It is recalled that the Croatian had a chaotic start to his career despite his status as the 19th choice in the 2019 Draft. Cut by the Spurs in October 2021 before being drafted by the Knicks, where he never played, he experienced the G-League before landing a recent ten-day contract with the Jazz.
In five appearances with his new team, over 20 minutes of play on average, he brought more than 7 points (45% on shots including 29% from afar), 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
| 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 | 4 | 18 | 47.6 | 33.3 | 83.3 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 7.3 |
| Total | 40 | 11 | 43.7 | 30.2 | 61.5 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 4.2 | |
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.
