Dario Šarić (Croatian pronunciation:[dâːrioʃǎːritɕ]; born 8 April 1994) is a Croatian professionalbasketball player for theSacramento Kings of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected with the 12th overall pick in the2014 NBA draft. He also represents the seniorCroatia national team. He joined thePhiladelphia 76ers in 2016 playing two seasons for the team before being traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves. After a season with the team he was traded to thePhoenix Suns in the 2019 offseason and played 4 seasons for the team before being dealt to theOklahoma City Thunder in the 2023 trade deadline. That following offseason, he joined theGolden State Warriors. He has also played for theDenver Nuggets.
Šarić began his professional career in 2009 withZrinjevac. After joiningZagreb mid-way through the 2009–10 season, and spending much of the 2010–11 season on loan withDubrava, Šarić won the Città di RomaEuroLeague (IJT) in May 2011, alongside teammates,Mario Hezonja andDominik Mavra, and progressed to the Final Four of the tournament, where his team eventually won.[1] After he had registered atriple-double in the final game with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, in addition to 10 drawn fouls, he was named the MVP of the tournament.[2][3]
In 2010 and 2011, Šarić was nominated for theFIBA Europe Young Player of the Year Award.[4][5]
In 2012, he was selected to play for the World Team, for the second year in a row, at theNike Hoop Summit inPortland, Oregon.[6] In the all-star game, the international players of the World Team beat the US team, with Šarić scoring 13 points and leading in rebounds (14) and assists (5).[7][8]
He signed withBilbao Basket and wasloaned toSplit in 2012. However, due to a sanction byFIBA, forcing the Spanish team to pay a buyout of €550,000, he didn't sign with Bilbao.[9] After that, he trained with Split, but was not playing games with them.
In November 2012, Šarić signed a four-year contract with the Croatian clubCibona.[10]
Again, in 2012, he was nominated for the FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year Award, finishing second.[11]
Šarić had initially decided to declare for the2013 NBA draft on 4 April 2013.[12] However, two days after the initial declaration, he decided not to participate in it and had planned to play for KK Cibona for at least one more season.[13] Šarić would, however, officially declare himself for the draft once again on 14 April 2013.[14] Finally, Šarić withdrew from the draft altogether, because of his desire to stay in Europe for another year, to gain experience.[15][16]
In 2013, he won theCroatian National Cup andCroatian League championship with Cibona, and won the MVP award for the Croatian finals.[17]
He was named the2013 FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year in February 2014.[5] In April 2014, he was selected into the ideal team and also namedthe MVP of the Adriatic League, averaging 16.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in theregular season.[18][19][20] In the Final Four of the competition, Cibona eventually won the league championship, and Šarić was also proclaimedthe MVP of the final four.[21] He was also named theABA League Top Prospect for the 2013–14 season.[22]
On 24 June 2014, Šarić signed a 2+1 contract with the Turkish teamAnadolu Efes.[23][24] Cibona also received US$1.2 million in the name of buyout from Anadolu Efes, as Šarić was still under contract with them. He signed the offer days before the2014 NBA draft commenced.[25][26] TheOrlando Magic selected Šarić 12th overall in the 2014 draft, but his rights were traded to thePhiladelphia 76ers forElfrid Payton on draft night.[27] After the draft, Šarić stated that he planned on playing in Europe for at least one more year, but promised that he would eventually play in theNBA.[28]
At the beginning of the 2014–15 season,Šarić's father criticized Efes's head coach,Dušan Ivković, for not putting Dario in the roster for theTurkish Super League games, openly threatening possible termination of the player's contract, if the situation didn't improve.[29] He was named theEuroLeague2014–15 season'sMVP of the Month for the month of November, becoming the youngest player in EuroLeague history to win the monthly MVP award.[30] Over 4 EuroLeague games in November, he averaged 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
In January 2015, he was named the2014 FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year, his second consecutive award.[31]
Anadolu Efes finished their participation in the EuroLeague season, after they lost their quarterfinal playoffs series toReal Madrid, by a 3–1 series result.[32] Over 27 EuroLeague games played in 2014–15 season, Šarić averaged 9.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.[33] In May 2016, he finished second, for the second straight season, in theEuroLeague Rising Star voting.[34]
On 15 July 2016, Šarić signed with thePhiladelphia 76ers.[35] In just his third NBA game, on 1 November, Šarić scored 21 points in a 103–101 loss to theOrlando Magic.[36] On 3 December, he had a second 21-point game in a 107–106 loss to theBoston Celtics.[37] On 9 February 2017, Šarić had a 26-point effort in a 112–111 win over Orlando.[38] On 17 February, he participated in theRising Stars Challenge during theAll-Star Weekend. On 2 March, Šarić was namedEastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in February, after his injured teammate,Joel Embiid, had won each month prior.[39] On 9 March, he had a 28-point effort in a 114–108 overtime loss to thePortland Trail Blazers.[40] Three days later, Šarić scored a career-high 29 points in a 118–116 win over theLos Angeles Lakers.[41] He surpassed that mark on 24 March, scoring 32 points in a 117–107 win over theChicago Bulls.[42] On 3 April, Šarić was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the second straight month.[43] Following the season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team[44] and finished second inNBA Rookie of the Year voting, behindMalcolm Brogdon.[45]
On 7 November 2017, Šarić scored a then season-high 25 points in a 104–97 win over theUtah Jazz. It was the 76ers' fifth straight win, their longest since the 2011–12 season.[46] On 18 December, he scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half of the 76ers' 117–115 loss to the Chicago Bulls.[47] Three days later, he had a near triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a 114–109 loss to theToronto Raptors.[48] On 31 December, Šarić tied a season high with 27 points in a 123–110 win over thePhoenix Suns.[49]
Šarić was named aRising Star once again duringAll-Star Weekend 2018, competing for the World team alongside 76ers teammatesJoel Embiid andBen Simmons.[50]
In Game 4 of the 76ers' second-round playoff series against the Celtics, Šarić scored a game-high 25 points in a 103–92 win, helping Philadelphia cut the series deficit to 3–1.[51] The 76ers went on to lose to the Celtics in Game 5, despite Šarić's 27 points and 10 rebounds in a 114–112 loss.[52]
On 12 November 2018, Šarić was traded to theMinnesota Timberwolves, along withJerryd Bayless,Robert Covington and a 2022 second-round pick, in exchange forJimmy Butler andJustin Patton.[53] He made his debut for the Timberwolves two days later, scoring nine points in 20 minutes off the bench in a 107–100 win over theNew Orleans Pelicans.[54] On 24 November, he had 19 points and 14 rebounds in a 111–96 win over theChicago Bulls.[55]
Šarić was unhappy with his bench role in Minnesota and preferred to start.[56] Since his starting stint[57] with the Timberwolves, Šarić did not see much time as a starter.
On 6 July 2019, Šarić, along with the draft rights toCameron Johnson, were traded to thePhoenix Suns in exchange for the draft rights toJarrett Culver, completing a trade set ondraft day.[58] On 24 November, Šarić scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in a 116–104 loss to theDenver Nuggets.[59] He later matched his career-high of 17 rebounds, scoring 19 points this time around, in a 121–119 overtime loss to theSan Antonio Spurs on 14 December in Mexico City.[60] After losing his starting spot to Cameron Johnson in the2020 NBA Bubble during the scrimmage games, Šarić returned as a starter on 10 August, getting 16 points and 9 rebounds in a blowout 128–101 win over theOklahoma City Thunder.[61] The Suns eventually ended their season with an 8–0 run in the bubble.
Due to the success he had both as a starter last season and as a sixth man off the bench in the 2020 bubble setting, Šarić signed a three-year extension with the Suns on 28 November 2020.[62] On 13 January 2021, Šarić was revealed as one of two Suns players to have caughtCOVID-19 a day after playing theWashington Wizards, who had multiple players catch the virus after that match.[63] While he officially missed only four games to the virus, Šarić remained inactive for a month with leg injuries also affecting him for at least the first half of the season.[64] Overall, he missed 13 straight games that were scheduled at the time, excluding three suspended games due to initial infection, before returning to action on 13 February against thePhiladelphia 76ers.[65] On 2 March, Šarić lead the Suns in scoring with a season-high 21 points off the bench in a 114–104 win over the defending championLos Angeles Lakers.[66] On 6 July 2021, in Game 1 of the2021 NBA Finals against theMilwaukee Bucks, Šarić suffered a tornanterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, and on the following day the Suns announced that Šarić would be out indefinitely.[67] The Suns went on to lose the series in 6 games.
Šarić underwent surgery on his ACL in early August 2021 and missed the entire2021–22 NBA season.
On May 5, 2022, Šarić underwent meniscus surgery and was ruled out indefinitely.[68] He returned in time for the start of the 2022–23 season.
On February 9, 2023, Šarić was traded, alongside a 2029 second-round pick and cash considerations, to theOklahoma City Thunder in exchange forDarius Bazley.[69] Šarić made his Thunder debut on February 15, recording 12 points and five rebounds in a 133–96 win over theHouston Rockets.[70]
On July 12, 2023, Šarić signed with theGolden State Warriors.[71]
On July 12, 2024, Šarić signed with theDenver Nuggets.[72]
On July 13, 2025, Šarić was traded to theSacramento Kings in exchange forJonas Valančiūnas.[73]
While playing with Croatia's Under-16 national team, Šarić was named the Most Valuable Player of the2010 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in a unanimous vote, after leading the tournament in scoring (24.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.5 rpg), and finishing second in assists (5.8 apg).[74] He registered atriple-double (30 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) in the final, becoming only the second player to do so (afterRicky Rubio in 2006).[75]
He won a gold medal with Croatia's Under-18 national team in the2012 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, where he finished first in scoring (25.6 ppg) and second in rebounds (10.1 rpg).[76] Soon after scoring 39 points to lead Croatia to victory in the gold medal game against Lithuania, Šarić was voted unanimously as tournament MVP.[77]
Šarić also played with Croatia's Under-19 national team in the2011 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where he finished fourth in scoring (18.1 ppg)[78] and third in rebounds (10.1 rpg),[79] despite being one of the youngest participants at 17 years of age. He also played at the2013 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where he averaged 20.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists per game, and was named tothe All-Tournament Team.[80]
Šarić represented the senior men'sCroatia men's national basketball team at a major FIBA tournament for the first time atEuroBasket 2013, where he averaged 5.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.[81] He then played with Croatia's senior men's team at the2014 FIBA World Cup, where he averaged 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.[82]
During the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Šarić had six teeth knocked out in a match against Argentina. He stayed in the game for a few minutes and knocked down a three-pointer before being benched to receive medical attention.[83]
He also played with Croatia at theEuroBasket 2015,[84] where they were eliminated in the eighth finals byCzech Republic.[85] Over 6 tournament games, he averaged 9.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, on 44.7% shooting from the field.[86]
Šarić played with Croatia at the2016 Olympic games, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals bySerbia. Over 6 tournament games, he averaged 33.1 minutes, 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, on 43.1% shooting from the field.[87]
Šarić represented Croatia at theEuroBasket 2017. Croatia was eliminated in the round of 16 byRussia. Over 5 tournament games, he averaged 32.4 minutes, 14.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, on 37.4% field goal shooting.[88]
In 2022, after recovering from meniscus surgery, Šarić played for the Croatian national team during theEuroBasket 2022 tournament.
Šarić was born with acleft lip.[89] He is the son of basketball-playing parents,Predrag andVeselinka.[90] His nicknames include "The Homie", "Super Dario" and "Šiši" (pronounced "shi-shi").[91][92][93]
In 2018, Šarić announced that he would be releasing a documentary about his life titledAlways the Same. It was released on March 1, 2020.[94][95]
Šarić has stated thatsharks are his favorite animal.[96][97]
Šarić has stated that he keeps in touch with former 76ers teammatesFurkan Korkmaz[98] andTimothé Luwawu-Cabarrot.[99][100]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | PIR | Performance index rating |
| Bold | Career high |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
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