10-Year NBA Veteran Speaks Out on Nuggets, Kings After Getting Waived
Dario Saric ’s nine-year run in the NBA ended quietly earlier this year, but the veteran forward is not staying silent about how it unfolded.
After being waived by the Detroit Pistons in early February during a hectic trade window, Saric officially became a free agent. In a recent interview with Croatia’s Jutarnji list , the 29-year-old spoke candidly about what he described as a lack of transparency and consistency during his final stops in the league.
Reflecting on his brief time with the Sacramento Kings , Saric questioned how his role was handled from the start.
“It would be better if they told you back in August, ‘we don’t want you,” he said. “Instead, I fly from Sibenik, come to San Francisco, drive two hours to Sacramento, fall asleep from jet lag, wake up at five in the morning, get a medical, then back to San Francisco and fly back to Europe. They forced me to do that.”
Saric said he arrived at training camp in strong shape, ready to contribute, but quickly found himself out of the rotation. He expressed confusion about what the organization expected from him.
“I don’t understand what they thought in August, that I was Wemby , that I would defend everything, and that I would put up roadblocks?! I guess they knew who I was.”
Before Sacramento, Saric also struggled to find consistency with the Denver Nuggets . He described how difficult it was to perform at a high level after long stretches without playing time.
“You don’t play for three months, and they put you in place of Nikola Jokic against Boston . So what, now after three months you’re going to play as if nothing happened? It’s hard, it doesn’t work at the NBA level.”
For Saric, the issue was not just reduced minutes but the lack of rhythm that comes with sporadic opportunities. He believes that without steady playing time, it becomes nearly impossible to meet expectations, especially at the NBA level.
Now back in Europe, Saric recently represented Croatia in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. In a home-and-away series against Germany, he averaged 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds, showing he can still produce when given a defined role.
However, his next move remains uncertain. Because of registration deadlines, he is ineligible to join a EuroLeague team for the remainder of the current season. He is searching for a short-term contract that would allow him to regain rhythm and prepare for 2026-27.
“I’m waiting, I don’t know what to say,” Saric admitted. “I wanted a contract until the end of this season, plus the season after. So that I could get into some kind of rhythm, play the championship finals, and get ready for next season to show whether I’m the one or not. That hasn’t happened for now.”
Saric leaves the NBA with 522 career appearances, averaging 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. While his role diminished in recent years, he was once a key contributor early in his career.
For now, Saric is focused on finding stability and proving he can still impact games. His NBA chapter may have closed, but he is not ready to step away from the game.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
