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Over the last few years, European players have begun to dominate the league and Croatian NBA players are no exception. In addition to generational talents like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic, there have been several Croatians who have emerged as elite NBA players.
Specifically, the trio of Bojan Bogdanovic, Ivica Zubac and Dario Saric seem to be carrying the torch for Croatia in the NBA. The three have continued to carve out a lane for themselves over the years, with each respectively representing the past, present, and future of Croatian basketball.
Today we're going to be taking a look at the careers of the three men and the impact they've made on Croatian basketball. All three have represented themselves in the NBA, while also representing their country at various levels of the game from the youth level to the FIBA World Cup.
Below you can see some highlights from Zubac's dominant season thus far.
The top three current Croatian NBA players
Bojan Bogdanovic (Detroit Pistons) – Bojan Bogdanovic has been one of the best representatives for Croatia on a global stage.
After turning pro in 2004, Bogdanovic competed around Europe for an entire decade before going as one of the last picks of the 2011 draft. In addition to being a Turkish Supercup winner, Bogdanovic was also a 2010 Croatian League champion, while earning all-star honors the same year.
After the draft, Bogdanovic wound up signing a three-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets. It was there that he helped the team make the playoffs with a monstrous performance in the final game of the season, when he scored 28 on 12-for-17 shooting. Most recently, Bogdanovic was an integral part of the Utah Jazz playoff run with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
Bogdanovic is currently averaging 20.4 points per game on 51.0% shooting as one of the most productive members of the Detroit Pistons.
Dario Saric (Phoenix Suns) – Although Dario Saric has been having a bit of a rough season with the Phoenix Suns, he's one of the most accomplished Croatian players ever. In the years before he was drafted by the Orlando Magic, Saric won the U-16 championship with Croatia, before then winning the FIBA U-18 championship in 2012.
As a two-time MVP, Saric then won the Croatian League Champion in 2013 and added a Finals MVP to his belt before being drafted by the Magic with the 12th overall pick. It wasn't until the 2016 season that he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers and began his NBA journey. After successful stints in Philadelphia and Minnesota he joined the Phoenix Suns in 2019.
Ivica Zubac (LA Clippers)
The 25-year-old Ivica Zubac represents the future of Croatian NBA players. The 32nd overall pick of the 2016 draft is currently in the midst of a breakout year that recently saw him erupt for 31 points and 29 rebounds. Yes, 31 points and 29 rebounds.
With the LA Clippers eager to secure a championship behind the dynamic duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Zubac has played an integral role in the team's quest.
With the franchise currently battling to stay over .500 this season, Zubac is averaging a career-high 10.8 ppg to go along with a career-high 11.4 rpg. Add onto that a career-high average for blocks per game (1.7) and Zubac is a solid contender for Most Improved Player.
With the state of the NBA constantly evolving, it seems the future of Croatian basketball is in good hands.
