Dario Saric came as he’s probably ever going to come to a 20-20 game in the NBA. If he goes back to Europe early, within the next few years, he’ll likely get one every game (to go with 10 assists), but in the NBA, he’s not going to be grabbing 20 rebounds very often. 20-20 games are still rare enough that Saric getting one would be one of the great individual statistical achievements of the year.
In a way, Saric DID get a great individual statistical achievement in this game: all 17 of his rebounds were of the defensive variety. Not a single offensive rebound for him. That’s the most rebounds without an offensive rebound this year, barely beating out Kevin Love’s 16. And it falls only 4 short of the record of 21 set by (of course) Dirk Nowitzki. This may not be the most desired stat to be the league leader in, but it’s something. Not a lot of players can lay claim to the big categories, so you have to take them where you can get them.
Saric hasn’t been quite the contributor the Suns were hoping for when they signed him; my totally unfounded guess as to why which is backed by no evidence whatsoever is that they’re not letting him run the offense enough. He’s not going to be very effective as just a shooter or just a guy who finishes possessions. On the other hand, is he a good enough to warrant running your offense through even some of the time? A dilemma that the Rockets and Russell Westbrook are dealing with as well.