The people of Croatia should be happy today. Not only did Dario “Diarrheo” Saric have one of his best games as a Timberwolf, but Mario Hezonja recorded a triple-double as the Knicks’ starting point guard. I’m not sure if there’s usually a lot to be happy about in Croatia, but these two things happening simultaneously should improve the national attitude by a significant amount. Not, like, to the level where spontaneous parades are organized and people hang the flag of Croatia in every window and doorway, but enough where people are slightly happier when going about their days.
It’s similar to if I, as a Wisconsinite, got to watch Kevon Looney drop 18/10 on the same night that Sam Dekker dropped 24. Except I have no particular affinity towards players from my own state, so I actually wouldn’t care at all. My “nationalism” (stationalism?) for Wisconsin extends to consuming large amount of cheese and getting upset when national figures inflect the name of the state slightly wrong. Croats, on the other hand, definitely do care when their countrymen perform well in games. I know this because they watch my highlight videos with enthusiasm.
Dario Saric is maybe being misused on the Timberwolves. That’s what Croats would have you believe. However, I don’t know if he’s a good enough scorer to be featured in a LeBron-lite role like they all seem to want. My solution? Somehow get him on a tanking team that has no good players, like the 76ers of old, and let him go crazy.