Dario Saric named constant pressure as the biggest difference between Europe and NBA. He also named the lack of tactics in the NBA due to a tight schedule as a major difference as well.

Credit: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki - Scanpix
Credit AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki - Scanpix

After beginning his professional basketball career in Europe, Dario Saric has now been playing in the NBA for the last five seasons. Looking at both competitions, the Croatian forward sees a stark difference.

In an interview with Toni Canyameras from Mundo Deportivo, Saric opened up about how different the mentality is when comparing the games.

"It's a different mentality. When you play with the national team, each game is usually a war. If you lose it, you go home. Here in the NBA, if you play badly or don't compete well, you always have the next game," he started. "In Europe, every game is important, you need to win or you're going to die, it's more pressure, it's difficult to play."

"Spain won the EuroBasket. Was it the best team? On paper, no but they did amazing. That's what I mean, you need something between the NBA and European basketball," Saric explained.

Asked whether tactics play a bigger role in Europe, Saric agreed but offered an explanation for it as well.

"It's difficult to prepare for a game when you play two in a row. I don't think it's the case in the playoffs. You can see variations from game to game," the player said.

"It's just that in Europe every game is a war. If you lose, you're out, while in the NBA you have a second and a third chance to come back," he continued. "In Europe, the best team doesn't always win. It's all about the opportunity and seizing the moment. It's difficult to analyze."

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3-pointers this season

36%
12,2
Points made: 12,2
Accuracy: 35,9%
Place in standings: 13
Record max: 21
Record min: 4
Most made 3FGs: Isaiah Joe