What will Dragan Bender become?
I’m not one to label him as a bust quite yet. It is no doubt frustrating watching him at times, but one must keep something in mind: he isn’t even 21 yet and sometimes it takes players time to figure it all out – especially international players that don’t just have to adapt their game but are coming over from a different country and have to learn an entirely different culture at the same time.
In his first two years, the lack of a capable head coach and learning several different playing styles must have been a headache alone. He needs a head coach that has helped many players in their development and will instill an actual system and give him an actual role may work wonders for the Croatian.
New Phoenix Suns Head Coach Igor Kokoskov has been credited with improving the shooting of several star players and hopefully Bender will be an addition to the list.
There will be calm to the chaos as well with Igor being able to help with the adjustment to the states as someone that understands and has been there.
Ryan Anderson will help with the shooting form as well and will hopefully take Bender under his wing in that regard in showing him how to be an ultimate stretch-four.
With Deandre Ayton on board, even if Bender can just become elite at that specific role, he will be a good fit and have a future on this team.
With Ayton drawing comparisons to Joel Embiid, one could see Bender excelling if his peak is only a Dario Saric.
The Croatian Sensation is being given one more chance to prove that he deserves to not just stay in Phoenix but that he can be the sensation he was hyped to be prior to his drafting.
Being Croatian and a tall shooter, Dragan Bender has been compared to Toni Kukoc. His gift set has drawn Kristaps Porzingis comparisons as a unicorn.
Even Draymond Green was brought up as a comparable forward that can handle the ball and facilitate.
After two years
those comparisons all seem like quite the stretch.
However, as stated before he’s still only 20-years-old and sometimes it takes time for players to show their true game, play, and value. See Bender’s 23 point, 8 rebound, 4 assist and 2 block night on 9 of 15 field goals with 3 treys against Nikola Jokic when the Suns played the Denver Nuggets on Feb 10 last season.
Future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki has stated he felt completely lost at first in the NBA and was ready to give up.
He didn’t and look how that worked out for him.
Some may say this is one last chance for Bender. The way I look at it, this is his first true chance. He doesn’t need to become an All Star over night – although that would be amazing, it’s highly unlikely. But, he does need to show significant improvement and carve a role this season. The rest will come.
For now, let’s hope to see a baby Dragan emerge and start breathing fire.