From Serbia To Surf City: How Alen Smailagic Left His Mark On The G League

With the 39th pick in this year’s draft (via a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans) Golden State picked up Serbian teenager Alen Smailagic, a 6-foot-10 18-year old who spent the past year playing for their G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.

The casual fan might scratch their head and wonder who this young kid is that they’ve never heard of, and why would they trade for a second-round pick just to acquire him? Is he that special?

Simply put, yes he is.

When he first arrived on the scene in Santa Cruz last Fall, Alen Smailagic was a man of few words, and rightfully so. The 18-year old from Serbia had just arrived in the United States for the first time nearly a week prior. Despite his limited English, when asked what his goals were with the Warriors for the upcoming season, the man affectionately known as “Smiley” because he was always smiling, kept it simple.

“To win the championship,” Smailagic said on media day. The youngest player in G League history had high aspirations, incredible obstacles, and amazing challenges ahead of him, but he was ready for the battle.

Early on, it was easy to see the bright-eyed kid from across the globe had this positivity swirling about him. The language barrier hardly affected him. From picking up dance moves, to learning how to swear, the crew in Santa Cruz made sure it was a smooth transition for the potential Golden State draft pick.

The organization surrounded him with a slew of players that bought into the team mentality, as well as a coaching staff and front office that showed tremendous patience during his development.

Not only had Smiley traveled to a new country for the first time, but was competing in arguably one of the second-tier professional basketball leagues while possessing limited communicative abilities with teammates and coaches, and yet still believe the mountaintop was possible.

No fear. That’s what defined Smailagic in his first G League season.

The Warriors stashed him in Santa Cruz to develop him ahead of this year’s NBA Draft. Acquired in a G League Draft day trade with the South Bay Lakers and selected fourth overall, Smailagic would call Surf City home for the next five months.

The goal? To get a closer look at a potential draft prospect ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft. There was certainly a risk/reward when it came to Golden State’s tactics. Would this prove as an opportunity to develop a player in the G League? Or would Smailagic be exposed to other teams as the Warriors would not hold his NBA rights come draft night?

Before coming to Santa Cruz, Smailagic played for Beko in Belgrade in their Junior League where he averaged 21.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

In 47 games with Santa Cruz, he averaged 9.1 points and 4.0 rebounds (more than half came on the offensive glass) in 17 minutes of work per game with a 52.5 eFG%. Those numbers increase to 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per 36 minutes.

Of the players who averaged at least those numbers (per 36) during the regular season that appeared in at least 40 games in the G League last season, Smailagic averaged the second-most blocks (1.9), as well as the second most offensive rebounds (4.4). He also had the second-best plus-minus among qualifying players (4.6).

The Warriors wanted to keep a close eye on Smailagic’s development, and it didn’t take long before he spread his wings and showed just exactly what he could do in the G League.

In a game on Nov. 9 on the road against the Agua Caliente Clippers, Smailagic showcased what he was capable of, as each possession you could see his confidence grow on the court. He was not afraid to attack off the dribble out near the three-point line. He was quick to react on defense and make the smart play as well.

It was easy to see Smailagic and his teammates gelled fairly quickly together.

“He was a great teammate. He was a very fun kid to be around,” said Juan Toscano-Anderson. “Once he opened up he was just like us. I’m very excited for him. I think he’ll be a hell of a player in a few years.”

The whole package wasn’t there just yet, but there were little flashes that showed just what he could do and that was only the third game of the regular season.

The Belgrade Babyfaced Baller would soon turn heads near the end of the season, however.

Coming into the last week of the regular season, Santa Cruz was fighting for playoff position. They needed to close out their final two games of the regular season with back-to-back wins against the Clippers in order to possibly clinch a number one seed.

Meanwhile, the Clippers were fighting for their playoff lives, needing just one victory to clinch the final playoff spot out west. On Mar. 22, it seemed as if Agua Caliente had Santa Cruz in hot water.

The Clippers led by as many as 19 points against Santa Cruz near the end of the first half and it looked as though the game was sealed. The Warriors’ resident big man, Deyonta Davis, had just earned a call-up to the Atlanta Hawks.

The Sea Dubs were up against perhaps the best frontcourt duo in the G League in Jonathan Motley and Angel Delgado. The latter came of which into the game averaging a league-best 14.5 rebounds per game and had set the single-game record in league history with 31 rebounds earlier that season.

Santa Cruz trailed big early, down 20–6 midway through the first quarter before Smailagic made his presence felt and stepped onto the court.

Owning the moment like he belonged on the court, Smailagic showed off that no fear mentality once more in the most important game of the regular season.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Smailagic buried a pair of three-pointers from the top of the arc and already had 10 points to his name with the Clippers’ lead down to four.

As Santa Cruz Warriors broadcaster Kevin Danna so eloquently put it, “Smailagic is in the building and he’s feeling himself.”

Hitting buckets, taking charges, and earning an and-1 opportunity midway through the fourth quarter gave Santa Cruz its first lead of the game courtesy of Smailagic.

It was that final play from Smailagic that sealed the game for the Warriors. He would finish with 21 points, 11 rebounds in just 27 minutes and a game-high +25 rating.

While certainly at just 18 years old, the road is still long in terms of his continued development and conditioning to get to an NBA Level. But suffice to say that after a season in the G League with limited minutes, it will be incredible to see the youngster spread his wings and fly this coming year.

There is potential for the Serbian stud, and he could possibly be a late second-round steal for the Warriors. In all likelihood we will probably see him in Santa Cruz for another full season as a draft-and-stash type player but that remains to be seen.

But after watching Smailagic suit up in the G League for a full season, it’s easy to see why the Warriors drafted him.

The Warriors took a risk by bringing Smailagic over a year in advance, but by utilizing their G League team and limiting his exposure, they were able to grab the prospect they wanted.