Published: June 22, 2007
For the past couple of weeks a lot of people are talking about Roko Ukic and his chances of playing in the NBA. I’ll introduce him to those of you who still don’t know this young Croatian player.
Ukic started playing in KK Split and was drafted #45 by the Toronto Raptors in 2005. He signed with TAU Vitoria (in the Spanish ACB league) two seasons ago, and last year he went to FC Barcelona where he’s playing in the ACB Finals right now. He’s a point guard who’s 6′5″, has long arms and could defend 2’s.
In a NBAdraft.net interview, Tim Shea (Director of International Scouting for the Charlotte Bobcats) said about Roko Ukic: “Perhaps he’s learned all he can learn from European style basketball.” I agree with him. I have a lot of doubts about Ukic developing as a better player in Europe because his style is far from what European coaches at the highest level are looking for in a PG. Think about guys like Papaloukas (CSKA) or Diamantidis (Panathinaikos) – they are great defensive players and they score when their teams need them to. They read the plays, and they do whatever their teams need.
Ukic, on the other hand, just can’t stop being the offensive focus when he’s on the court. He is more a one-on-one or two-on-two player than a five-on-five player. Nowadays, on the top Euroleague teams, that’s something nobody wants. It’s not that he hasn’t got the talent needed to play, to score, to be a go-to guy … it’s just that everybody is looking for another style of player.
And of course, the doubts about Ukic’s defensive skills are not helping. In my opinion he still doesn’t understand that he needs to play defence (I’m not saying great D, just average D) to be the starting point guard on teams like TAU, Barcelona, CSKA or Panathinaikos. I think this is because of his superiority on the offensive side of the court.
Let me tell you, Ukic can score or assist a teammate whenever he wants to. He’s extremely fast running while dribbling. He’s also got a good instinct for grabbing defensive rebounds, which makes him capable of going coast-to-coast to score or make “the pass.” He’s great running pick-and-roll situations, his first step is nice, and his dribbling skills are above average. He’ll need to improve his shooting in the NBA (although you’ll see nice shots in the video clip) as well as his defence, but I think he’ll only realize that when he starts facing NBA defences. Will Roko Ukic be able to improve that side of his game? I know that if he could, it would be in the NBA and not in Europe.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ariYtP0ob0]
Raul Jimenez coaches in a Spanish professional league. Click here to read his blog.
19 Comments on "Roko Ukic Needs the NBA"
Kinnon Yee on Fri, 22nd Jun 2007 12:10 pm
Good writeup man. I’ve heard from various people in the Raptors organization that he keeps getting buried on benches in Europe, and I guess this really brings things to light. I dunno how he can fit in this Raptors team, as they have the biggest problem on the defensive end. I have some shades of seeing Carlos Arroyo (Orlando years) in him, in that he does a lot of good on the Offense side, but not so much on the Defense, which could cost the team a lot some nights. Might be a viable 3rd string on our squad, or possibly be worked in as a temp SG.
Ryan McNeill on Fri, 22nd Jun 2007 12:28 pm
Thanks for the article Raul! I don’t get to follow the Euro leagues nearly as close as I’d like so getting your thoughts on a player that the Raptors have the rights to made for a great read.
While reading this I got a picture in my mind of a hybrid of Sasha Pavlovic and Carlos Arroyo – not an enticing picture for me as a Raptors fan. While the kid may have some talent we already have more refined players like this (Juan Dixon jumps to mind) and a better option already signed for next season in Luke Jackson.
Plus, wasn’t this draft pick part of the Rob Babcock era? I don’t see BC having any loyalty to a pick Babcock made…
Jeff W on Fri, 22nd Jun 2007 1:12 pm
As unappealing as the player comparisons are, let’s see what Roko can do in North America. He’s played in the highest level of European pro ball the past couple of years, he’s 23 and 6′5″. He’s got potential and size to eventually replace Dixon.
OT: I know the media (Doug Smith) are looking down on Luke Jackson, but I think he’s got a chance to surprise people. He’s got the talent (former lottery pick). He just needs to regain his stride after major surgery, and he started to get that chance at the end of last year.
Gav on Sun, 24th Jun 2007 1:37 pm
Roko will make JC expandable. I love JC and don’t want him to leave, but for the raps to get the pieces they need someone has to go. Roko can be that viable bkup PG who can play SG if need be.
Jordan on Thu, 10th Jan 2008 12:27 am
hahaha are you kidding me, we are deffinetely not going to give calderon (probably an all star this year) away for this roko guy. We will be giving away most of our team before we let jose go.
That was a funny one though, obvisouly you dont know what your talking about though, so its all good
zack on Thu, 10th Jan 2008 5:34 pm
easy jordan, read the dates. that message about giving up jose was posted in the summer of 2007. I don’t think anyone would even consider letting Jose go now
Croat on Mon, 28th Jan 2008 3:20 pm
how long until the Raps have a sip of Roko-Cola?
Gabe on Mon, 10th Mar 2008 2:12 pm
Actually Roko is considered a very good defender, despite what he may be playing like right now, and to consider him a liability before even seeing him play nba players is presumtuous at best. Have you guys ever watched this guy play?
I first got a chance to see him some years back,when somehow stumbling over FIBA European Championships coverage, and the first thing he did was a blazing transition cross-over spin move (his spin move is uncanny, seriously he’s got it down), at what to me looked like nba speed (This is national team level competition), and just cut some guy up completely, finishing nicely. He’s bigger than Calderon or Juan (who’s gone now anyway, more time for Delfino, thankfully) and he is nothing like Carlos Arroyo or Sacha Pavlovich. He plays very straight up (the way he looks) and he has a really nice handle; you typically see him breaking guys down, penetrating, and kicking out these jumping turnaround passes. He was killing us when we played virtus roma in pre-season, he was also doing a good job on T.J.
I don’t see him as a threat to T.J or Calderon. He is going to play back up point and shooting gaurd, with the emphasis on shooting gaurd. He is another 2, but he can create better, or at least with more speed, than Delfino or Parker, and he is way more of a threat to go to the basket than Juan will ever be (I love Juan, not trying to diss him).
I’m not saying he’s going to be the best thing ever, but I think he could prove to be very valuable; he needs to develop his set shot and pull up j (he has good form already on both). He could give us another high pace, penetrating gaurd, but he seems to like going to the basket whenever possible rather than settling for shots, which is something we could really use.
Davor Bajlovic on Sun, 16th Mar 2008 12:33 pm
I am form Croatia and have seen him play and i have seen a lot of nba games.
Roko could easy be a part of raptors he is clearly a better player than parker and if you dont belive me then see this clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqsUYLxf7U8
Vinthulan on Sun, 16th Mar 2008 6:24 pm
As long as they keep jose. tj ford is weaking so i dunno
Matt on Sun, 23rd Mar 2008 2:14 pm
ok…so everyone is sayin lets see him in the NBA and i agree completely…can’t judge a guy until he’s bin given a chance…and u know what? my buddy and i were talkin teh other day and said that with TJ’s contract running out, and Jose proving himself as a starter, i would love to see if this guy can take over as a back-up point guard…kepping our platoon style going…but with less of a pay hit than TJ. This could obviously free up some space for a nice athletic, well-rounded Small forward that this team needs…don’t get me wrong i LOVE Moon, Delfino and Kapono, but i think we need someone more LIKE Corey Maggette (just throwing a name out there…not sayin him specifically) So, in any case i’m sayin let the kid prove himself and see where it goes from there…better than AP though? i dunno man hehe.
Matt on Sun, 23rd Mar 2008 3:30 pm
o..and for the record…we could always sign him, and keep him as a combo guard behind parker and whoever we have at point, whether it be jose AND TJ or just one…cus then he’d be replacing Darrick Martin, who will be better served as a coach (gotta love his heart though) and we could move Joey Graham with no fear of losing depth and only a possibility of adding more
Davor on Thu, 27th Mar 2008 11:47 am
Roko is not a back backup player. he is not that kind of a player to sit on the bench, he needs to play as a starter. It is better for him to be a starter in italy than be a bench player in the nba… AIGHT!
Matt on Thu, 27th Mar 2008 7:32 pm
um..is jose calderon the kind of player that shold be sitting on the bench? not really no…he’s a team player, a good wholesome player that exemplifies the purity of the game…and u know what? i think Roko would be the same…jose gets his mintes comin off the bench…why wouldn’t Roko? A chance to win an NBA championship is an amazing opportunity, and who knows? he may WIN the starter spot if he comes over at some point…but i think he would share Jose’s philosophy and be a team player…plus if u read up, it says he’s already bin buried on a few benches of deep European teams…so it wouldn’t change that much…except he’d actually be a respected back-up…AIGHT! hehe
Johnn19 on Tue, 15th Apr 2008 8:02 pm
No young PG/SG is going to come from Euro and start on an NBA team with out coming off the bench. See for example Calderon, Bellinelli, Navarro, all coming offf the bench or sitting on it to start. Ukic will have to earn his minutes from the bench 1st no matter when he comes to the NBA.
Z on Fri, 27th Jun 2008 12:55 am
now this is getting interesting… Pending physicals, we’ve added O’Neal and got rid of the irate ford, rasho, baston and our #17 pick (Roy Hibbert)…
I’d love to see BC grab Roko for the upcoming season…
Rumours spreading of AP and Delfino receive large offers from Euro teams so adding Maggette to the mix would be excellent… Eventhough this is a long shot given BC will not let AP and Delfino go that easy…
It’s going to be an interesting off season for the Raps.
Z on Fri, 27th Jun 2008 12:56 am
opps, meant irratic ford…
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