On September 27th, the Golden State Warriors signed European center Ognjen Kuzmic to a two-year contract for a league minimum salary. The Warriors acquired Kuzmic during the 2012 NBA draft, when they selected Kuzmic in the second round with the 52nd overall pick. After being drafted, the 23-year-old spent the 2012-13 season playing in Spain, where he averaged 6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 0.7 blocks in 18.2 minutes per game—Kuzmic has spent the past six seasons playing in Europe.
Defensively, Kuzmic is an impact player. His massive frame allows him to protect the rim and get rebounds. Kuzmic is known for blocking shots—he had two blocked shots in 9.5 minutes on the floor during the Warriors’ preseason game against the Utah Jazz. Offensively, Kuzmic is a work in progress – he’s still a developing player who has a long way to go if he wants to be a productive center in the NBA.
With Festus Ezeli out until at least December due to offseason knee surgery, Kuzmic could be looking at minutes as the Warriors’ third-string center. Jermaine O’Neal and Marreese Speights are ahead of Kuzmic as backups for Bogut, but if big man Dewayne Dedmon is signed to a guaranteed contract then Kuzmic will be competing for the third-center spot against Dedmon. They are both developing players, although Kuzmic has years of experience on Dedmon—he’s been playing pro ball in Europe for as long as Dedmon has been playing basketball.
Once Ezeli returns from injury, Kuzmic will likely be sent down to the Warriors’ D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz. For a developing player like Kuzmic, time in Santa Cruz can only be positive. He’ll be able to gain experience and develop his skills in a way that he wouldn’t be able to if he were sitting on the bench in the NBA.
Do you want to "get to know" more of the new Warriors? Follow the links below:
Get to know your Warriors: Andre Iguodala
Get to know your Warriors: Seth Curry
Get to know your Warriors: Toney Douglas
Get to know your Warriors: Jermaine O'Neal
Get to know your Warriors: Marreese Speights
Get to know your Warriors: Nemanja Nedovic
Get to know your Warriors: Dewayne Dedmon
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