By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
“Even if I had won it, I would’ve traded it for a medal with the national team”, Saric tells FIBA about the Rookie of the Year honor.
“We have waited for a medal for so long in Croatia, we have dreamed about winning a medal, if not the whole country, then the whole basketball population over there. Everybody who is involved in basketball in Croatia.”
It’s been 22 years since Croatia stepped on the podium, after winning bronze in the 1995 EuroBasket.
“All of us want the team to finally have a good result, no matter who’s coaching or who’s not. That’s why I would’ve definitely traded it. Winning a medal here would give us the know-how to do it all over again. Things would be much easier for us in the future then,” passionate Saric continues.
Croatia takes on Russia in the Round of 16 on Sunday: “The most important game is the one in Istanbul on September 10. Maybe even the most important game of this entire generation, with a mixture of experienced players and Bender and I as the younger ones.”
(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)