Depending on the era, names like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant , LeBron James , Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Durant , and Stephen Curry are often unanimous picks. After all, they're basketball's biggest names and talents.
While there is no judgment around those names, the NBA's overall talent goes deeper than that, as its legends are only the tip of the iceberg. The NBA has the title of the best basketball league in the world for a reason, as its unknown names and unsung heroes carry the level of talent that an average person wouldn't be able to comprehend.
Thanks to that, every player has that one under-the-radar player who gave them nightmares whenever they faced each other.
Draymond Green has a career most are envious of. Not only is he a four-time champion, a four-time All-Star, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a two-time Olympics gold medalist, among other accolades, but he has experienced every extreme "in and out" an NBA career can offer.
The future Hall of Famer has faced and guarded every major star in the league's modern era, and has been through numerous deep playoff runs, making him a well-seasoned veteran. However, when asked which player gave him trouble, many would be surprised to hear his answer.
"No one would ever guess, an incredible player, that give me fits," said Green. " Dario Saric . Dario, he would give me fits. No matter if he was in Philly, Minnesota, Phoenix, OKC. Dario Saric, every time I played against him, would give me a fit."
"It's like if you just go and you tell someone, they're like, 'Yo. Who's the guy in the league that you struggle with to guard?'No one would ever guess that I'd be like Dario Saric," he added.
A casual fan might not be familiar with the name Dario Saric. He came into the NBA as a 12th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft for the Orlando Magic , before getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night.
The Croatian forward was part of the overwhelming wave of European big men with guard skills, as he thrived as a stretch-four, displaying a classic international game with a high IQ and the playmaking skills of a guard.
Due to remaining overseas to play for the Turkish team Anadolu Efes, Saric made his initial debut two years after his initial draft selection. Almost instantly, the "Homie" showed immense promise for the 76ers, where he had his most memorable stint, bringing freshness to the raw, physical style of Joel Embiid .
Alongside Embiid in the frontcourt, Saric averaged 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in his first year, and was a 2016-17 Rookie of the Year runner-up behind the award-winning Malcom Brogdon.
In the next season, Dario showed improvement when he bumped his averages to 14.6 points and 6.7 rebounds, stamping himself as a part of the 76ers' young core next to Ben Simmons , Markelle Fultz , and Embiid. During that time, "The Process" had finally started to head in the right direction for the 76ers, as they finished the 2017-18 season as the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
After exiting the playoffs in a 4-1 loss to the Boston Celtics in the second round, a part of the 76ers' core would be broken apart after Saric got shipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Philly.
It's safe to say nothing was the same for Dario, who had a limited role with the Timberwolves. Not long after, Saric signed with the Phoenix Suns , where he showed flashes of his 76ers self, before tearing his ACL in Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks .
After the Suns, Saric jumped around the NBA, playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder , the Golden State Warriors , the Denver Nuggets , and the Sacramento Kings , before getting blindsided by the franchise , which led to his exit from the league.
Related: "It should be hard" - Draymond Green blasts complaints about NBA Finals being too physical
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
