Dario Šarić facts for kids
Šarić with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019
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| Sacramento Kings | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2025–present | Sacramento Kings | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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. Dario plays for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was chosen as the 12th player overall in the 2014 NBA draft. Dario also plays for the senior Croatia national team.
He joined the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016. After two seasons, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played one season there before moving to the Phoenix Suns in 2019. Dario played four seasons with the Suns. In 2023, he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Later that year, he joined the Golden State Warriors. He also played for the Denver Nuggets in the 2024-2025 season. As of July 2025, he is with the Sacramento Kings.
Contents
Dario's Basketball Journey: Early Years
Dario Šarić started his professional basketball career in 2009 with a team called Zrinjevac. He then joined Zagreb during the 2009–10 season. For part of the 2010–11 season, he played on loan with Dubrava.
In May 2011, Dario helped his team win the Città di Roma EuroLeague (IJT). He played alongside teammates Mario Hezonja and Dominik Mavra. His team made it to the Final Four and won the tournament. In the final game, Dario had an amazing performance. He scored 19 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and made 10 assists. This is called a triple-double. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
In 2010 and 2011, Dario was nominated for the FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year Award. This award recognizes the best young basketball players in Europe.
In 2012, he was chosen to play for the World Team at the Nike Hoop Summit. This was his second time playing in this all-star game. The international players on the World Team beat the US team. Dario scored 13 points, led in rebounds with 14, and had 5 assists.
He almost signed with Bilbao Basket in 2012 and was going to play for Split on loan. However, due to some rules from FIBA, the deal didn't happen.
Playing for Cibona Zagreb (2012–2014)
In November 2012, Dario Šarić signed a four-year contract with the Croatian club Cibona.
He was nominated for the FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year Award again in 2012. He finished second that year.
Dario thought about joining the 2013 NBA draft in April 2013. But he decided to stay in Europe for another year to get more experience. He wanted to play for KK Cibona for at least one more season.
In 2013, he won the Croatian National Cup and the Croatian League championship with Cibona. He also won the MVP award for the Croatian finals.
In February 2014, he was named the 2013 FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year. This was a big honor for him. In April 2014, he was chosen for the best team in the Adriatic League. He was also named 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 ABA League Top Prospect for the 2013–14 season.
NBA Career and Beyond
Joining Anadolu Efes (2014–2016)
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 in the draft. However, his rights were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers that same night. After the draft, Dario said he planned to play in Europe for at least one more year. But he promised he would eventually play in the NBA.
Dario was named the EuroLeague 2014–15 season's MVP of the Month for November. He was the youngest player ever to win this award. In four EuroLeague games that month, he averaged 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds.
In January 2015, he won the 2014 FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year award again. This was his second time winning it 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.
Playing for the Philadelphia 76ers (2016–2018)
On July 15, 2016, Dario Šarić officially signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. In only his third NBA game, on November 1, he scored 21 points. On December 3, he scored 21 points again. On February 9, 2017, Dario had a great game with 26 points.
On February 17, he took part in the Rising Stars Challenge during the All-Star Weekend. On March 2, Dario was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February. On March 9, he scored 28 points. Three days later, Dario scored a career-high 29 points. He broke that record on March 24, scoring 32 points. On April 3, he was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the second time. After the season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He finished second in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
On November 7, 2017, Dario scored 25 points. This was the 76ers' fifth win in a row. On December 18, he scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half of a game. Three days later, he almost had a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. On December 31, Dario tied his season high with 27 points.
Dario was named a Rising Star again during All-Star Weekend 2018. He played for the World team with his 76ers teammates Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
In the playoffs, during Game 4 against the Celtics, Dario scored 25 points. This helped Philadelphia win the game. The 76ers lost the series in Game 5, even though Dario had 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Time with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2018–2019)
On November 12, 2018, Dario Šarić was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He made his first appearance for the Timberwolves two days later, scoring nine points. On November 24, he had 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Dario was not happy with his role on the bench in Minnesota. He preferred to be a starter.
Playing for the Phoenix Suns (2019–2023)
On July 6, 2019, Dario Šarić was traded to the Phoenix Suns. On November 24, Dario scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. He matched his career-high of 17 rebounds on December 14, scoring 19 points.
Dario signed a three-year contract extension with the Suns on November 28, 2020. In January 2021, Dario was one of two Suns players to get COVID-19. He missed several games due to the virus and leg injuries. He returned to play on February 13. On March 2, Dario led the Suns in scoring with 21 points.
On July 6, 2021, during Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals, Dario hurt his right knee. He tore a ligament and was out indefinitely. The Suns lost the series. Dario had surgery in August 2021 and missed the entire 2021–22 NBA season. He had another surgery in May 2022 but returned for the 2022–23 season.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2023)
On February 9, 2023, Dario Šarić was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played his first game for the Thunder on February 15, scoring 12 points and getting five rebounds.
Golden State Warriors (2023–2024)
On July 12, 2023, Dario Šarić signed with the Golden State Warriors. He played for them during the 2023-2024 season.
Denver Nuggets (2024–2025)
On July 12, 2024, Dario Šarić signed with the Denver Nuggets. He played for the Nuggets during the 2024-2025 season.
Sacramento Kings (2025–Present)
On July 13, 2025, Dario Šarić was traded to the Sacramento Kings. He is currently a player for the Kings.
Playing for His Country: National Team Career
Dario Šarić has played for Croatia's national basketball teams since he was young.
Youth National Teams
When he played for Croatia's Under-16 national team, Dario was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship. He led the tournament in scoring and rebounding. He also had a triple-double in the final game.
He won a gold medal with Croatia's Under-18 national team in the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He was the top scorer and second in rebounds. He scored 39 points in the gold medal game and was voted tournament MVP.
Dario also played for Croatia's Under-19 national team in the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. He was one of the youngest players but still performed very well. He also played in the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. He was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Senior National Team
Dario 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 a game against Argentina, Dario lost six teeth! He kept playing for a few minutes before getting medical help.
He also played for Croatia at EuroBasket 2015 and the 2016 Olympic games. In 2017, Dario represented Croatia 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, both played basketball. 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 his former 76ers teammates Furkan Korkmaz and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot.
Career Statistics
NBA Regular Season Stats
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2024–25 | Denver | 16 | 4 | 13.1 | .362 | .269 | .700 | 3.1 | 1.4 | .4 | .1 | 3.5 |
| Career | 493 | 230 | 22.5 | .444 | .360 | .837 | 5.3 | 1.9 | .6 | .2 | 10.4 | |
NBA Playoff Stats
| 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 Stats
| 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.
Team Awards
- Junior Teams
- Città di Roma Tournament (2010, 2011)
- EuroLeague Junior Tournament (2011)
- Senior Teams
- 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 Awards
- 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 Awards
- 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)
Images for kids
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Šarić at the 2014 World Cup
See also
In Spanish: Dario Šarić para niños
