Dario Šarić facts for kids
Šarić with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019
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| No. 9 – Denver Nuggets | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Power forward / center | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 April 1994 Šibenik, Croatia |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Orlando Magic | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2009–present | |||||||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Zrinjevac | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | Zagreb | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | →Dubrava | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Cibona | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Anadolu Efes | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Minnesota Timberwolves | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2023 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Oklahoma City Thunder | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Golden State Warriors | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Dario Šarić is a professional basketball player from Croatia. He was born on April 8, 1994. He plays for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dario was chosen as the 12th player overall in the 2014 NBA draft. He also plays for the senior Croatian national team.
Dario started his NBA journey with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016. After two seasons, he moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Later, he played for the Phoenix Suns for four seasons. In 2023, he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder and then the Golden State Warriors. Now, he is a player for the Denver Nuggets.
Contents
Dario Šarić's Basketball Journey
Early Days in Basketball
Dario Šarić began his professional basketball career in 2009 with a team called Zrinjevac. He later joined Zagreb in the 2009–10 season. He also spent time playing for Dubrava.
In May 2011, Dario helped his team win the Città di Roma EuroLeague (IJT). He was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. This was because he achieved a "triple-double" in the final game. A triple-double means he got double-digit numbers in three different stats: 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Dario was recognized as a top young player in Europe. He was nominated for the FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year Award in both 2010 and 2011. In 2012, he played in the Nike Hoop Summit for the World Team. He helped his team beat the US team by scoring 13 points and leading in rebounds and assists.
Playing for Cibona Zagreb
In November 2012, Dario signed a four-year contract with a Croatian club called Cibona. He was nominated for the FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year Award again in 2012, finishing second.
Dario thought about joining the NBA draft in 2013, but he decided to stay in Europe. He wanted to gain more experience before moving to the NBA.
In 2013, he won the Croatian National Cup and the Croatian League championship with Cibona. He was also named the MVP of the Croatian finals. In February 2014, he was named the FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year for the second time in a row.
In April 2014, he was chosen as the MVP of the Adriatic League. He averaged 16.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Cibona won the league championship, and Dario was named the MVP of the Final Four. He was also recognized as the best young player in the Adriatic League for the 2013–14 season.
Time with Anadolu Efes
On June 24, 2014, Dario signed a contract with the Turkish team Anadolu Efes. This happened just before the 2014 NBA draft. The Orlando Magic picked Dario as the 12th player. However, his rights were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night. Dario said he would play in Europe for at least one more year before joining the NBA.
In November 2014, he became the youngest player ever to win the EuroLeague MVP of the Month award. He averaged 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game that month. In January 2015, he won the FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year Award for the second year in a row.
Anadolu Efes finished their EuroLeague season after losing to Real Madrid. Dario averaged 9.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in 27 EuroLeague games.
NBA Adventure: Philadelphia 76ers
On July 15, 2016, Dario Šarić officially signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. In only his third NBA game, he scored 21 points. He had another 21-point game in December.
In February 2017, he scored 26 points in a game against Orlando. He also took part in the Rising Stars Challenge during the All-Star Weekend. Dario was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February and March.
On March 12, 2017, he scored a career-high 29 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. He then broke that record on March 24, scoring 32 points against the Chicago Bulls. After the season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He finished second in the NBA Rookie of the Year Award voting.
In November 2017, Dario scored 25 points in a win against the Utah Jazz. This was part of the 76ers' longest winning streak since 2011–12. He had a great game with 27 points against the Chicago Bulls in December. He also nearly got a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists against the Toronto Raptors.
Dario was named a Rising Star again in 2018. He played for the World team with his 76ers teammates. In the playoffs, he scored 25 points in a win against the Celtics. He also had 27 points and 10 rebounds in another playoff game.
Moving to Minnesota Timberwolves
On November 12, 2018, Dario Šarić was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played his first game for the Timberwolves two days later, scoring 9 points. On November 24, he had 19 points and 14 rebounds in a win against the Chicago Bulls.
Dario was not happy with his role coming off the bench in Minnesota. He preferred to be a starter.
Playing for the Phoenix Suns
On July 6, 2019, Dario was traded to the Phoenix Suns. On November 24, he scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. He matched his career-high of 17 rebounds in another game in December.
In the 2020 NBA Bubble, Dario returned as a starter. He scored 16 points and had 9 rebounds in a big win. The Suns finished their season in the bubble with an impressive 8–0 winning streak.
Dario signed a three-year contract extension with the Suns in November 2020. In January 2021, he caught COVID-19. He also dealt with leg injuries, which kept him out of games for a month. He returned to play in February. On March 2, Dario led the Suns with a season-high 21 points in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
In Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, Dario suffered a serious knee injury. He tore a ligament in his right knee and was out indefinitely. The Suns ended up losing the series. Dario had surgery in August 2021 and missed the entire 2021–22 NBA season. He had another surgery in May 2022 but was able to return for the start of the 2022–23 season.
Short Stints: Thunder and Warriors
On February 9, 2023, Dario was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played his first game for the Thunder on February 15, scoring 12 points. On July 12, 2023, Dario signed with the Golden State Warriors.
Joining the Denver Nuggets
On July 12, 2024, Dario Šarić signed with the Denver Nuggets.
Playing for His Country: National Team
Dario has played for Croatia's national basketball teams since he was young. When he played with Croatia's Under-16 team, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He led the tournament in scoring and rebounding. He even got a triple-double in the final game, which is very rare.
He won a gold medal with Croatia's Under-18 team in the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He was the top scorer and second in rebounds. He was also voted MVP of that tournament.
Dario also played for Croatia's Under-19 team in the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Cup and the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. He was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2013.
He first played for the senior men's Croatia men's national basketball team at EuroBasket 2013. He also played at the 2014 FIBA World Cup. During the 2014 World Cup, Dario had six teeth knocked out in a game against Argentina. He bravely stayed in the game for a few minutes before getting medical help.
Dario also played for Croatia at EuroBasket 2015 and the 2016 Olympic games. He represented Croatia again at EuroBasket 2017. In 2022, after recovering from surgery, Dario played for the Croatian national team in the EuroBasket 2022 tournament.
About Dario's Life
Dario Šarić was born with a cleft lip. His parents, Predrag and Veselinka, were both basketball players. Some of his nicknames are "The Homie," "Super Dario," and "Šiši."
In 2018, Dario announced he would release a documentary about his life. It was called Always the Same and came out on March 1, 2020. Dario has said that sharks are his favorite animal. He also keeps in touch with some of his former teammates from the 76ers.
Career Numbers
Here are Dario Šarić's career statistics in the NBA and EuroLeague.
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Philadelphia | 81 | 36 | 26.3 | .411 | .311 | .782 | 6.3 | 2.2 | .4 | .7 | 12.8 |
| 2017–18 | Philadelphia | 78 | 73 | 29.6 | .453 | .393 | .860 | 6.7 | 2.6 | .3 | .7 | 14.6 |
| 2018–19 | Philadelphia | 13 | 13 | 30.5 | .364 | .300 | .900 | 6.6 | 2.0 | .2 | .3 | 11.1 |
| 2018–19 | Minnesota | 68 | 28 | 23.9 | .454 | .383 | .875 | 5.5 | 1.5 | .6 | .1 | 10.5 |
| 2019–20 | Phoenix | 66 | 51 | 24.7 | .476 | .357 | .844 | 6.2 | 1.9 | .6 | .2 | 10.7 |
| 2020–21 | Phoenix | 50 | 4 | 17.4 | .447 | .348 | .848 | 3.8 | 1.3 | .6 | .1 | 8.7 |
| 2022–23 | Phoenix | 37 | 12 | 14.4 | .427 | .391 | .818 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .4 | .1 | 5.8 |
| 2022–23 | Oklahoma City | 20 | 0 | 13.7 | .515 | .391 | .844 | 3.3 | .9 | .4 | .1 | 7.4 |
| 2023–24 | Golden State | 64 | 9 | 17.2 | .466 | .376 | .849 | 4.4 | 2.3 | .5 | .2 | 8.0 |
| Career | 477 | 226 | 22.8 | .445 | .362 | .839 | 5.4 | 1.9 | .6 | .2 | 10.6 | |
Play-in
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Oklahoma City | 2 | 0 | 11.7 | .500 | .000 | – | 2.5 | .0 | .5 | .5 | 3.0 |
| Career | 2 | 0 | 11.7 | .500 | .000 | – | 2.5 | .0 | .5 | .5 | 3.0 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Philadelphia | 10 | 10 | 32.9 | .421 | .385 | .850 | 7.3 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .4 | 17.2 |
| 2021 | Phoenix | 14 | 0 | 10.5 | .467 | .444 | .929 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .1 | .1 | 4.5 |
| Career | 24 | 10 | 19.8 | .432 | .400 | .870 | 4.5 | 2.0 | .5 | .2 | 9.8 | |
EuroLeague
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Zagreb | 4 | 3 | 15.0 | .200 | .167 | .500 | 4.5 | .5 | .3 | .3 | 2.0 | .8 |
| 2014–15 | Anadolu Efes | 27 | 22 | 24.4 | .433 | .306 | .707 | 6.4 | 2.3 | .7 | .4 | 9.9 | 12.6 |
| 2015–16 | Anadolu Efes | 24 | 18 | 22.4 | .500 | .403 | .939 | 5.8 | 1.5 | .5 | .5 | 11.7 | 13.5 |
| Career | 55 | 43 | 22.9 | .457 | .350 | .783 | 6.0 | 1.8 | .6 | .4 | 10.1 | 12.1 | |
Awards and Achievements
Dario Šarić has won many awards throughout his basketball career:
Club Honours
- Junior Club Honours
- Città di Roma Tournament (2010, 2011)
- EuroLeague Junior Tournament (2011)
- Senior Club Honours
- Croatian League Champion (2013)
- Croatian Cup Winner (2013)
- Adriatic League Champion (2014)
- Turkish Cup Winner (2015)
- Turkish President's Cup Winner (2015)
Individual Awards
- Junior Honours
- 2010 Albert Schweitzer Tournament: Burkhard Wildermuth-Award
- 2010 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship: All-Tournament Team, MVP
- Città di Roma Tournament: All-Tournament Team, MVP (2010, 2011)
- 2011 EuroLeague Junior Tournament: All-Tournament Team, MVP
- 2012 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: All-Tournament Team, MVP
- 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Cup: All-Tournament Team
- Senior Honours
- Croatian League Finals MVP (2013)
- Adriatic League: First Team, Season MVP, Final Four MVP (2014)
- Adriatic League Top Scorer (2014)
- Adriatic League Top Prospect (2014)
- FIBA European Young Player of the Year (2013, 2014)
- NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month (February, March 2017)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2017)
See also
In Spanish: Dario Šarić para niños
- List of European basketball players in the United States
