Professional and College Basketball Forums banner

Dragan Bender - F - International

5K views 29 replies 8 participants last post by  29380 
#1 ·
#3 ·
Re: Dragan Bender (Croatia)

I love that he pronounces his first name like Dragon.
 
#4 ·
Re: Dragan Bender (Croatia)

He has an opt out clause after 4 years. He would be 20 at that time.
 
#5 ·
Re: Dragan Bender (Croatia)

He has an opt out clause after 4 years. He would be 20 at that time.
Maccabi fans are really pissed that he's signed only till 23, that way we develop him and if he doesn't go the NBA , he'll go after the big money in europe and leave.

Lets see how he turns out :) I know he's a speical project of Maccabi , they never bought a player that young before.
 
#6 ·
Re: Dragan Bender (Croatia)

Hmm a hyped 6'11 teenager with the last name Bender? Where have I seen this before?

Just kidding. Will be interesting to see how he develops.
 
#8 ·
Almost 17-year-old Dragan Bender is an MVP candidate in the Israeli National League


In a typical season, someone like me who is an assistant coach/scout for a team in the Israeli Winner League (Israel D1), would obviously keep a close eye on the National league – the Israeli minors – to look for emerging Israeli talent, or young American players who could be prospects in the near future. This season, however, it’s obvious that every Tuesday I will be watching the Ramat Gan squad to cherish every opportunity I can get to see an obvious future NBA star play in the Israeli minor leagues.

Meet Dragan Bender, a 6-11 soon-to-be 17-year-old forward that Maccabi Tel-Aviv signed to a long term deal from Croatia and loaned to the minor league club Ironi Ramat Gan. This kid can handle and pass like a guard, has a great outside shot, excellent defensive fundamentals and an off-the-charts basketball IQ for someone his age. He plays with a maturity and poise that makes him seem like one of the veterans in the league instead of a seeming like a high school kid who can’t even drive a car.

Through his first two games, Bender is averaging 13.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists on 60 percent 2-point shooting and 35.7 percent 3-point shooting, winning game MVP both times. Additionally, in the state cup, Ramat Gan almost knocked out last season’s Winner League runner-up, Maccabi Haifa, before Haifa narrowly escaped embarrassment with a barrage of 3-pointers by Dagan Yavzuri.

Bender will not become NBA draft eligible until 2016, where he will be a surefire lottery pick. Until then, I am going to soak in watching him in small gyms throughout Israel, so I can remember just exactly where he was before he makes his mark over the next two decades.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlakeJesus
#13 ·
Croatian Prospects to Showcase Talents in NYC

NBA Croatian prospects Dragan Bender and Lovro Mazalin are among the overseas stars to receive invitations to the Basketball Without Borders Global camp in New York City, sources told Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.

Bender and Mazalin, both 17 years old, will participate in and attend the NBA All-Star festivities from February 13-15, 2015.

Bender, the most coveted Croatian projected NBA draftee — ranked No. 13 in the 2016 NBA Draft, according to DraftExpress — averages 10.5 points, 8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 27 minutes over six games for Maccabi Ramat-Gan of the Israeli Second Division.

Bender, a lengthy small-forward who signed a seven-year pact during the offseason with reigning Euro Champs Maccabi Tel Aviv, is expected to return from a single-season loan and make the jump to Tel Aviv next season, I’m told. Bender will also compete in the upcoming Euroleague International Junior Tournament in Rome, Italy, from December 27-29.

Mazalin, a creative wingman is set to sign a four-year deal next summer with Croatian power-club Cedevita Zagreb, according to sources. He’s currently registering 1.9 points, 0.7 boards and 0.2 assists over 5.2 minutes per showcase through 11 Euroleague and Adriatic League appearances.
 
#19 ·
This kid was born in '97? When will he even be eligible for the draft?
 
#20 ·
Dragan Bender

-The most significant development of the first day of this year's Eurocamp was the play of a prospect who couldn't even declare for the NBA Draft this year. Croatian forward Dragan Bender was sensational at times this evening, leaving no doubt as to why he's a potential lottery pick next summer. Signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv last year, Bender spent this season loaned to Ramat Gan in the Israeli 2nd division. Averaging 9.7 points and 7.4 rebounds over 28.4 minutes per game, Bender held his own as a key contributor against low level senior competition, despite being in his first year outside his home country at just 17-years old.

Named MVP of the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp at NBA All-Star Weekend in February, and averaging 23 points and 10.8 rebounds at this year's adidas Next Generation Tournament, Bender is a player NBA scouts are already deeply familiar with. He's been dominant at times at the junior level, but wasn't particularly impressive when he suited up at the Eurocamp as a 16-year old last year, looking very passive for the most part.

That was not the case today, as the 6'11 forward was simply outstanding in the evening session. His body appears to have improved noticeably from February, especially his legs, which is a very promising sign for the slender young talent, and he made a major impact today. Converting a number of floaters with deft touch while flashing improved shooting mechanics from the 3-point line, creating angles to the rim off the dribble, pushing the break himself, handling the ball like a wing, and making some superb passes, Bender's offensive skill set was on full display. Though he finished with only 9 points and 3 assists, his number belie the impact he had and the number of impressive moments he recorded, some of which didn't quite work out but were still very memorable.

He also had some fantastic moments defensively recovering to close out shooters on the perimeter and in one memorable sequence, stayed in front of a much smaller player he was switched onto before swatting away the player's attempt at the rim. His lower body strength appears to be improving, but he still gave up position to Greece's stronger big men as his frame still has a ways to go.

Though this was just one game, Bender's strong play will leave a lasting impression on the scouts in attendance. There simply aren't many 7-footers gifted with the same type of offensive skill and promising defensive ability as Bender. Not turning 18 until November, Bender has gotten an early jump on building his resume for the 2016 NBA Draft where he figures to come off the board sooner rather than later.
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2015-adidas-Eurocamp-Day-One-5059
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top