By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
What an experienced player is doing in the Euroleague’s NIJT tournament in Istanbul? Dario Saric, perhaps the most talented European player at his age, has already competed in the top level of Europe with KK Zagreb, but helped his teammates also in NIJT of Istanbul.
Last year was named MVP in Barcelona, but this year hadn’t succeeded. Shortly after the end of his games he talked to eurohoops.net about his experiences, dreams and his great future desire. For many years everybody has recognized his talent. Indeed, during the youth games in Abdi Ipekci he seemed that was a… veteran in KK Zagreb’s roster.
Although Saric doesn’t “belong” to the youth tournaments, helped his teammates and said “I was very proud to be able again to play against the top players of my age one year after my MVP award. We haven’t won but we played enough hard games that will help us as a team in the future”.
His games in Euroleague of course (played against Bamberg, Panathinaikos, CSKA Moscow and Malaga) were completely different “with more power, jumpers and speed. The level was very high and I’m very glad I had the chance to play already against Kirilenko and Diamantidis”.
Does he feel ready for the big jump? “I want to improve and play at a higher level. This is the dream of every player. Next year KK Zagreb will not play in the Euroleague, nor in the Adriatic League and cause this I will go, because I will not have the opportunity to play against the best”.
Two years ago has said that his dream is to play for Panathinaikos. Now at the age of 18 does he have the same opinion? “Of course! Panathinaikos is one of the top teams in Europe, where Diamantidis, Batiste play, the best players except NBA. ” Does he want that even if next eason the coach of Greens isn’t Zeljko Obradovic? “I can’t answer for his future. But I want to play for Zeljko Obradovic’s Panathinaikos. He is the best coach in the world for me. Even better than Popovic”.
Apart from the interest from Panathinaikos, who has expressed it some years ago, there are also other offers to Saric. “I’ll think very well my future, because I don’t want to do hastily steps in my career. My dream is to play in the NBA, but I should go up gradually”.