The Dallas Mavericks were stuck near the basement last season, finishing 12th in the Western Conference, and you know what their biggest problem was? Shooting, pure and simple. The team desperately needed to find some buckets from beyond the arc, and in what could be one of their smartest under-the-radar offseason moves, they snagged Bosnian-Turkish sharpshooter Tarik Biberović. This dude just arrived on a two-year deal after a series of trades post-NBA Draft, and if he lives up to his billing, he is going to make a difference.
This Guy Can Absolutely Fill It Up From Deep
Biberović, a 25-year-old forward, isn’t some rookie straight out of college. He’s been playing pro ball in Europe for almost a decade, carving out a rep as one of the EuroLeague’s best shooters. You wanna talk stats? Last season with Fenerbahce, he averaged 10.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 36 regular-season games, while draining an insane 39.9 percent from three-point range. And don’t even get me started on his free throws: 95.1 percent! He cranked it up even more in the playoffs, averaging 15.8 points and hitting 52.9 percent of his threes. Seriously, this guy can flat-out shoot the rock. The Mavericks, as a team, shot a dismal 34.4 percent from three last season, so imagine adding a guy who can stretch the floor like Biberović, giving Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving more room to operate. That’s a game changer, right?
The Question Everyone Had, And What We’re Seeing Now
Okay, so we know he can shoot. But the biggest question mark hanging over Biberović was always his defense. Can he guard NBA-level talent? Can Coach Dusty May trust him enough on both ends of the court to give him real minutes? He’s got the size at 6-foot-7, 218 pounds, to play either forward spot, but the NBA is a whole different beast athletically than Europe. Plus, the Mavs are stacked with wings and forwards like Zaccharie Risacher, Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington, and Morez Johnson Jr., all battling for minutes. He was even considered a slightly below-average defender in Europe. But here’s the kicker: his defense has reportedly been ahead of expectations during training camp. Coach Dusty May himself said Biberović’s defense has been “a little bit further along” than he anticipated. That’s huge, man!
If Biberović can hold his own on defense, grab rebounds, make the right rotations, and still provide that elite shooting touch he’s known for, then he’s not just an offensive specialist. He becomes a legitimate rotation player. That’s the difference between seeing spot minutes when the offense stalls and being a consistent presence on the court, making a real impact for Dallas.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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