Kelly Oubre Jr. is not the only very good deal of the summer, since the Warriors also took advantage of free agency to recover Dario Saric at a knockdown price. The Croatian signed for one year, at minimum salary, and he quickly integrated into the squad. The former Sixers and Suns power forward is the first interior rotation, and in the absence of Draymond Green, he shows that he can contribute a lot.
“We were shocked to get him back at minimum wage”admits Steve Kerr, who has already started Dario Saric three times. “He’s one of our best players and one of our most consistent players, game after game.”
To join the Warriors, Dario Saric accepted an 80% salary cut, but he was ready for this sacrifice. It must be said that he was coming out of 15 months of unavailability after a serious knee injury, and his short stint with the Thunder did not increase his rating. According to him, Chris Paul, whom he knew at the Suns, played a role in his arrival.
The Warriors, the “most sensible choice”
“Money is important, but more than anything, I was looking for an opportunity” he explains. “I had offers on the table for a little more than the minimum, but in the end the Warriors were the most sensible choice. Their style of play suited me. Also, Mike (Dunleavy), Steve (Kerr) and Chris (Paul) approached me. This meant a lot because it’s nice to be wanted. The Warriors showed me affection from the start, and I want to return it. »
For three matches, Kevon Looney has had Dario Saric as his racket partner at the start of the match, and he appreciates the play of the Croatian, second best rebounder of the Warriors, but also the only player on the team, apart from Stephen Curry, to have finished several matches with 20 points or more.
“As I have faced him throughout my career, I know how good he is” explains Kevon Looney. “I know how strong he is and how good a creator he is. It’s a real asset for us.”
| 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 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 15 | 21 | 41.8 | 33.8 | 88.0 | 1.7 | 4.7 | 6.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 9.7 |
| Total | 428 | 24 | 44.2 | 35.9 | 83.9 | 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.
