Dragan Bender on his successful comeback: 'I totally expected this' / News - Basketnews.com

Dragan Bender didn't want to rush his return to the court until he removed all doubts. Upon his successful return, the forward was confident in the work he put in and current results do not surprise him. Bender sees himself in the EuroLeague rather than the NBA.

Credit: ACB Photo/Adrian Baulde Credit ACB Photo/Adrian Baulde

After suffering a season-ending injury in May 2021, Dragan Bender missed the entire 2021-2022 season. Now, the Croatian forward is blossoming in the Spanish Liga Endesa, leading Monbus Obradoiro to victories.

Dragan Bender

Team:Monbus Obradoiro Santiago de CompostelaPosition:PF, CAge:25Height:215 cmWeight:102 kgBirth place:Capjina, Bosnia and HerzegovinaProfileNewsStatistics

"I totally expected it to go this way, I know how much work I put in the last year when I was injured, I was definitely eager to get back and play basketball again," Bender told in an interview with Moses Barda of One.co.il.

An ACL tear sidelined Bender for more than a year. The forward was then included on the Croatian national team's roster but was later released before EuroBasket 2022. This season, he's averaging 18 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for 18.6 PIR in the ACB.

"During the time when I returned to basketball, I felt good but I was not 100 percent. At the beginning of the process, I told myself that I would not return to the court if I was not at 100 percent," the player told. "There was no point in me being on the floor if I doubted myself and if I had thoughts during games and practices. I followed a certain scale of being sure that when I do get on the floor, I will be 100 percent ready."

"First and foremost, I'm healthy, I think that's the most important thing right now," he continued. "Even more important is the experience in general, getting more experience playing more games and just being able to understand how basketball works at every level. It's been great so far for me and I'm looking forward to it continuing like this."

Bender was drafted 4th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. However, it did not work out as successfully as both the league and the player himself probably hoped. During four years in the top league, he was part of three different teams - Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Milwaukee Bucks - averaging 5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

Dragan Bender

MIN:22.83PTS:18 (60.47%)REB:6.13As:0.5ST:0.88BL:1.13TO:2.63GM:8ProfileACB2022/2023

"It's a great experience to get to the NBA," Bender admitted. "I played for three different teams and then the coronavirus started. I was a little unlucky with the injury and everything that happened."

Asked whether he wanted to come back to the NBA, Bender did not say no but acknowledged that it's currently not his main option.

"I fell in love with the European style of play and it was so great until the point where I got injured and I really enjoyed the competitiveness," the player said. "It's very good basketball and it's very beautiful, and I'm just looking at this option now, but without a doubt, there's no doubt that I want to return to the NBA down the road."

"I really started to fall in love with European basketball and the EuroLeague, it's a great concept that the EuroLeague has with lots of competitive teams and many very good players who come to Europe," Bender told. "The league is becoming more and more competitive year by year so I definitely see myself going back there. It's simply a matter of me staying healthy."

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