PHILADELPHIA – Will he or won’t he? That question can now finally be put to rest.Friday afternoon, Dario Saric officially became a Philadelphia 76er, agreeing to a contract more than two years in the making. The deal, signed at the team’s business headquarters at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, ensures that the Croatian forward will indeed wear Sixers’ red, white, and blue this season.”This process has been obviously much anticipated,” Sixers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo said. “We’ve all been eager to have him join the team.””During the long flight, I was so excited because I was coming here,” said Saric of the 7,000 mile journey that took him from Croatia to Philadelphia. “Now I’m here. I’m happy because I’m here. I’m happy because I’ll be in the same locker room as very talented players. I think I’m here to help them, to show what I have.”LIVE on #Periscope: Dario Saric speaks to the media following signing with the team. #PHILAfirst https://t.co/pLKVljh3qX— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) July 15, 2016 Saric arrived in Philadelphia Thursday, and received a hero’s welcome of sorts. A good number of media members and curious fans alike gathered at the airport to see him.”I was surprised,” said Saric. “I didn’t know that people would say welcome to me that way. I’m happy because the city is happy that I’m here.”A highly-touted international prospect whom Colangelo and Sixers head coach Brett Brown both had the chance to see when he was in his late teens, Saric went 12th in the 2014 NBA Draft. He was not, however, chosen by the Sixers. It was the Orlando Magic that selected Saric, only to send him to the Sixers in exchange for point guard Elfrid Payton, that year’s 10th pick.”Seems a long time ago,” Brown said Friday in Las Vegas, where he was watching the Sixers’ summer league club. “In between then and now, the work that has been put in as an organization, as a coaching staff, with different teammates, to recruit him, to continue to stay in touch with him, has been extensive. The man hours, I could not even count.”Since that draft night two Junes ago, Saric – with reason – considered it in his best interest to sharpen his skills overseas. He had inked a pact with Anadolu Efes, a prominent, successful franchise in the Turkish Basketball Super League. With Efes, Saric was receiving quality playing time, too. Plus, there were favorable financial factors.During his time with Efes, Saric made noteworthy strides. Despite logging nearly 200 fewer minutes in his second year compared to his first, Saric’s per game scoring average rose by a full point. Additionally, in each of his five pro campaigns, his three-point efficiency increased, soaring from 23.2 percent in 2012, to 40.7 percent in 2016.Saric has also proven to be a winner just about everywhere he has played. This year, he assumed a key role in guiding Efes to the championship round of the TBSL playoffs. Last week, Saric was tabbed the MVP of one the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He averaged 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds over four games, while helping lead Croatia to its first Olympic berth since 2008.”We, as an organization, are proud of what he’s been able to accomplish at that level,” said Colangelo.Once Saric’s obligations in next month’s Olympics are complete, he will begin focusing in earnest on the next phase of an already promising career. As for the specific role Saric might assume with the Sixers, that has yet to be determined, according to Brown. One known dimension of Saric’s game is that he brings versatility to the forward spot.”My position is what coach says,” Saric said Friday cracking a smile and laughing a bit..”In Europe, I played most of the time the four. I think I can help both positions.”Brown compared Saric’s diverse skill set – a player with size who “can shoot, pass, and dribble” – to that of Ben Simmons, this year’s number one overall pick. Brown is confident the two can play together. The same can be said for Saric. “If you have five players who can run, feel each other on the court, I think it doesn’t matter which position we play,” the 22-year old said. “How we play, how we help each other during a game, I think we’ll make good things, not just me and Ben, but the whole team.”Saric and Brown, meanwhile, have connected constantly over the last two years. Whether via the “WhatsApp” text messaging mobile phone app, or the three visits that Brown has personally taken to Europe to meet with Saric, the Sixers organization has made it its mission to establish and maintain an open line of communication with Saric, and keep the relationship as close and personal as possible.”I [talk] with Coach Brown all the time,” Saric said. “Three or four times per week we stay in touch. We don’t talk just about Philadelphia, we talked about life, players, and I was in touch all the time with him. He’s a great person, and I think he’s a great coach, and I think he will improve my game.””I think the thing that stands out for me as much as anything,” said Brown, “is every time that we flew there, he said to me, ‘Coach, I have told you, in two year’s I’m coming.’ A year ago, ‘Coach, I have told you, I’m coming.’ Two months ago, ‘I’m coming.’ You almost felt like you were insulting him by asking him the question.”He wanted to play NBA basketball, clearly. He wanted to be part of the Philadelphia 76ers, clearly. I think, for him, it’s a real testament to his character.”LIVE on #Periscope: Brett Brown speaks to the media following Dario Saric’s signing with the team. https://t.co/wUDCEmTTOu— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) July 15, 2016 Saric planned to leave Philadelphia Saturday, roughly 48 hours after he landed, to return to his native Croatia.. He will do so as an NBA player. “When I started basketball,” said Saric, “I didn’t dream that these things would happen.”Those dreams are reality now, much to the mutual excitement of a player, team, and its town. In the end, after two years of waiting, what’s another few short months?
LIVE on #Periscope: Dario Saric speaks to the media following signing with the team. #PHILAfirst https://t.co/pLKVljh3qX
LIVE on #Periscope: Brett Brown speaks to the media following Dario Saric’s signing with the team. https://t.co/wUDCEmTTOu
