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Brett Brown likens Croatia's Saric to young Ginobili

Jim Young / REUTERS

While he's yet to play a NBA game, Croatian rookie Dario Saric has given Philadelphia 76ers fans plenty to look forward to as a result of his play in this year's Olympics.

Sixers head coach Brett Brown has been particularly impressed with Saric's performance this summer, going as far as to compare him to one of the greatest international players in basketball history.

"With Dario, you're seeing a bull in a china shop," Brown told Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "He reminds me emotionally of Manu (Ginobili) when Manu first came to the NBA, where he's all balled up. Oh, my goodness. You can just feel it, and I know him well enough to know that, when he wants to knock somebody's teeth in."

While Saric has impressed many with his ability on the offensive end, his game-winning block on Spain's Pau Gasol earlier this week has quickly become his defining moment of the tournament.

Related: Sixers teammates congratulate Croatia's Saric for game-saving block vs. Spain

"He played it out," Brown said. "He didn't have any false steps. He saw what was happening. He went over there and blocked the shot. Nobody's going to say, 'What an A-plus athlete Dario is.' He needed every one of those steps and timing to go make that play."

Through two contests, Saric has averaged 12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, dominating play on both ends of the floor for Croatia.

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