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AD Alessandro Dalla Salda revealed to La Repubblica that GeVi Napoli next season will rely on the talent of Dragan Bender, a 26-year-old Croatian power forward who is recovering from a serious knee injury. “Bender is part of the team philosophy we are building. But to get back on top he needs time, so we may sign a player while waiting for his return.”
Recovering from a long drag on the injury list, Dragan Bender was sidelined indefinitely with an ACL tear in his left knee and the looming possibility of surgery.
Bender, 25, will undergo additional medical tests next week to determine whether he suffered a complete or partial teat, thus if an operation is necessary. Another ACL tear forced him to the sidelines late in the 2020-21 season and miss the entire 2021-22 season. A similar situation arises with solid showings making things happen from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Obradoiro and attracting attention from potential new suitors, all abruptly stopped by an injury.
According to Georgios Zakkas from SDNA, two EuroLeague teams have shown a desire to sign the player from Monbus Obradoiro. BasketNews sources have confirmed the information. Virtus Segafredo Bologna and AS Monaco are interested in bringing the Croatian forward in, Zakkas reports.
Dragan Bender wants back in the NBA
“I really fell in love with European basketball and EuroLeague. It is a great concept with numerous competitive teams and many very good players,” he said, “The league is becoming stronger every year. So, I can definitely see myself returning. As I said, it is simply a matter of staying healthy.” “It does not really matter,” he replied to a question about preferring any EuroLeague team in particular, “Of course, I would love to return to Maccabi. It is a special club. For me, it is more about how the situation unfolds, more about which teams will be aiming to qualify for the Playoffs and be championship contenders. Those are the teams I want to be part of.” “Undoubtedly, I want to return to the NBA down the road,’ added Bender.
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Bender, 25, is a veteran of 187 NBA games between the Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, and Golden State Warriors. His Turkish Airlines EuroLeague experience drew up 41 appearances between the 2015-16 and 2020-21 campaigns as a member of Maccabi Tel Aviv. “I really fell in love with European basketball and EuroLeague. It is a great concept with numerous competitive teams and many very good players,” he said, “The league is becoming stronger every year. So, I can definitely see myself returning. As I said, it is simply a matter of staying healthy.”
“It does not really matter,” he replied to a question about preferring any EuroLeague team in particular, “Of course, I would love to return to Maccabi. It is a special club. For me, it is more about how the situation unfolds, more about which teams will be aiming to qualify for the Playoffs and be championship contenders. Those are the teams I want to be part of.” “Undoubtedly, I want to return to the NBA down the road,’ added Bender.
BasketNews: Dragan Bender is hoping to make up lost ground after missing the previous season with injury. The former Maccabi Tel Aviv big man has found himself a new team & is set to play in Spain for the first time ✈️ basketnews.com/news-176821-dr…
Dragan Bender staying with Maccabi Tel Aviv
Dragan Bender will stay in Tel Aviv at least until the end of the 2020-21 season, as Maccabi Playtica Tel Aviv has officially announced. Bender was signed initially with a short-term deal which included an extension option.
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv signed Dragan Bender to a three-month contract with an option for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, the Israeli powerhouse announced Sunday confirming previous reports. Bender, 22, was with the Yellows from 2014 to 2016 prior to making the NBA jump. Deciding to return at least until December brings him back to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after his seven 2015-16 appearances and to the Israeli league as well.
Dragan Bender back to Israel?
Nemanja Zoric: Breaking: Dragan Bender has signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bender will replce Quincy Acy who left the team. The Croatian is back to Tel Aviv after 4 years in US, Source confirmed.
Dragan Bender — A monumental bust as the fourth overall pick in 2016, Bender still has a chance to make it. Believe it or not, he’s only 22. The Bucks reluctantly waived him when Marvin Williams became available, and he had played serviceably on a 10-day contract with Golden State when the league shut down. I’d expect the Warriors to sign him to a multi-year deal similar to the ones Mychal Mulder and Juan Toscano-Anderson inked.
Warriors eyeing James Wiseman
A league source said the Warriors have Wiseman at the top of their draft board; understandable considering forward Dragan Bender, a late-season addition via two 10-day contracts, is the only 7-footer on the roster and 6'9" Kevon Looney is the only listed center. But none of the executives surveyed put Wiseman in the category of Dwight Howard or even Deandre Ayton, big men capable of playing a significant role on Day 1.
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