Dalibor Bagaric

Career: Karlovac (Croatia-A-2, 1996-97), Benston Zagreb (Croatia-A-1, 1997-98), Cibona Zagreb (Croatia-A-1, 98-1999), Benston Zagreb (Croatia-A-1, 1999-2000), Chicago Bulls (NBA, 2000-03), Olimpiakos Pyraeus (Greece-ESAKE, 2003-04), Fortitudo Bologna (Italy-Lega, 2004-06), Akasvayu Girona (Spain-ACB, 2006-07). Selected in the first round (#24) of the 2000 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls


Born and raised in Germany, Dalibor moved to Croatia when he was 14 and started playing basketball. The Munich native was the only player born in 1980 on the U18 team that won the European Championship in 1996. After playing for the youth Cibona team, he was lent to Karlovac and then to the second division with Benston Zagreb. Bagaric went back to Benston in the fall of 1999 where he averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, a performance which led to the Chicago Bulls selecting him with the 24th pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. It was probably a little soon for the move and he spent most of his three seasons in Chicago sitting on the bench.  So he signed with Olimpiakos in search for some playing time and later signed with Fortitudo Bologna and today he is a totally new player, a true center who is very good on offense, a solid defender and rebounder and has a soft touch. Last summer, he almost decided to go back to the NBA and sign with the Grizzlies, but some financial issues forced him to sign with Girona.  Not a bad choice considering Bagaric helped Girona to EuroCup title.