Luksa Andric

Andric had a disappointing season in general, but has came up strong as of late with his play in the Finals of the Croatian league. In the last 3 games against Cibona’s arch-rival Zadar, Andric averaged 18 ppg, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 blocks. He has been really turning heads with his play in the last month, when he finally started to gain starting minutes after Hungarian Center Marton Bader went down with an injury.

Luksa has a solid physical gifts, having good size at 6-11 and long arms to boot. He has a decent strength, although he is on the slim-side, but his very good frame leaves the impression that he will not have any troubles putting more weight onto his body. Andric is fairly quick , running up and down the court like a deer, often being involved in transition plays. His quickness in the half-court is also solid, being able to take players off the dribble, while showing decent lateral mobility on the defensive end. The least impressive part of his athleticism is his vertical explosiveness, as Andric is slow to get off the ground and doesn’t jump very high.

Offensively, we are talking about a player that has a complete package, although he has rarely been able to put it all together in one game. Andric has a good repertoire of low post moves he can go to, once he establishes position on the low block Luksa likes to shoot a right-handed hook shot, while he also can perform an up-and-under or spin to the basket. He is equally good facing the basket where his rock solid jump-shooting ability plays a big part. He has range out to the international three-point lane and will punish defenses when they give him space. Andric also has surprisingly good ball-handling ability and is a solid passer. When he is matched up against slower players or if there is an opening in the defense, Andric will not hesitate to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket. He picks up quite a few offensive fouls when slashing, since it is tough for him to change directions. The biggest hindrance in his offensive game is his finishing around the basket, where he is slow to react and his lack of explosiveness is exposed.

Defensively, Andric is fairly inconsistent, showing glimpses of potential by playing lockdown defense on a Euroleague star like Nikola Vujcic or a former NBA player in Predrag Drobnjak, only to lose focus and pick up cheap fouls or miss on a simple defensive rotation. Andric is known as a foul-machine, picking up cheap fouls in some of the most frustrating ways possible. He is especially prone to offensive fouls while setting screens on the offensive end, and also tends to flop sometimes, a skill that European refs don’t appreciate as much as American ones.

Luksa is a good rebounder and you have to like the intensity and tenacity he shows fighting in the paint. His effort isn’t questionable, but his fundamentals and defensive awareness are. Andric is not much of a shot-blocking threat, due to his already mentioned poor leaping ability.

It is really tough to evaluate the stock of a player like Andric. On one hand we have a 22-year old who doesn’t possess stand-out physical gifts and hasn’t accomplished anything significant on the European level. On the other hand, we have a guy who shows an array of skills, has a passion for the game and works very hard. When it’s all said and done he might not get drafted, but he could crack the NBA down the road via free-agency once he develops further.

Luksa Andric has struggled to take the next step in his progression that he sorely needed this season, and considering that he is automatically eligible for this year’s draft, his chances of hearing his name called have lessened significantly. Andric’s season has been plagued by inconsistency so far, he has been good in some games, while in others the coach was forced to pull him out after some poor plays, mostly on the defensive end. Speaking of the positives, Luksa is showing nice intensity and energy level, while he has been able to establish himself as a good shooter from mid-range on the offensive side.

He was especially impressive from that distance in a game against Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he hit a series of mid-range jumpers and was a key part in Cibona’s win. He also played good post defense on former NBA player Peja Drobnjak. These instances were too far and few between, though. Andric struggled to rotate properly in the team defense concept and often found himself out of position to make plays. He still has a habit of picking up quick fouls, which has further limited his minutes as a bench player. On the offensive side, he had some success posting up and is quite skilled in that regard, but more often than not opponents where able to disrupt him with their physicality and limit his effectiveness. He will need to learn how to take physical contact better, since he starts panicking and rushes his shot when guarded closely. Andric shows good passing ability and an above average basketball IQ, having a good understanding of the action on the court and a solid feel for the game.

Andric lacks some vertical explosiveness and is a poor finisher around the rim. Instead of dunking the ball instantly, he often does not react fast enough and ends up blowing easy shots. He has good ball-handling ability, but his footwork is poor when driving to the rim. He is still a pretty raw player, with quite a bit of untapped potential. Andric has good size, decent athleticism, very good hands and an excellent attitude to work with, so there might be a hope for him down the road to become an NBA player.

Andric is a very solid defensive player with the footwork and balance to stay in front of his man. He will occasionally make a stupid mistake by missing out on a rotation, but will show impressive ability on some plays. He is a good rebounder who positions himself well, and exhibits good hands. Andric doesn't have the greatest vertical leap necessary to finish emphatically at the rim or swat away shots, but he is solid athletically with good foot-speed, nice size, and a promising frame.

Offensively, he moves well without the ball, getting good position to receive a post entry pass, or freeing himself up for an easy lay-up. Lately he has been on fire with his jump-shot; nailing them from 18 feet out with impressive consistency. Andric has previously displayed that he has good shooting mechanics and range out to the international three-point line, so this is not really a surprise.

Andric is a relatively new name on the international radar, after not enjoying much hype or playing time in the junior categories for Croatia. Luksa emerged last season, playing some substantial minutes for Euroleague team Cibona Zagreb. His play was noticed by Croatian National Team coach Jasmin Repesa, and Andric made his debut with NT this summer, playing solid minutes in Eurobasket qualifications.

Since he is automatically eligible for next year’s draft, Luksa will need to have a big season in order to get picked from an NBA team. Unfortunately, so far he hasn`t received the kind of playing time he hoped. He is averaging just 9 minutes per game in the Adriatic league despite being regular starter (4 points 2 rebounds 1 block per game). The main reason for his decreased role is foul trouble, which is probably his biggest weakness at the moment. To put it simply, Andric is foul-machine, overreacting in some situations and just using his hands too much.

Luksa features a nice physique, being 6-foot-10 he has above average mobility, footwork and leaping skills. He also has a good frame, and should be able to put on much more weight. Andric, who is capable of playing both frontcourt positions, is a fairly skilled player too. He has good hands and a pretty jumper with range out to the international three-point lane. He is accurate from there when left wide open, but needs some time to settle his feet.

He also showed intriguing ability to put the ball on the floor and drive past his opponent. Andric has good moves with his back to the basket, but the main problem is consistency as he rarely puts it all together. On the defensive side, Luksa shows quick feet and a good attitude, but is often lacking an understanding of the game and anticipation skills, being late in rotations and picking up cheap fouls.

Luksa is a player that looks like a late bloomer, who still has a lot of potential left despite turning 22 years old in January. He is very inexperienced for his age, and as he gets playing time at this level he should became a much more steady presence for Cibona in the middle.

Strengths
Luksa Andric is a raw big man with intriguing potential who showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie season in the Euroleague, Adriatic and Croatian Leagues.

Andric has decent physical attributes, listed at 6-10 (209cm) with a pretty good wingspan for the power forward position. Luksa is a very agile player who runs the floor pretty fast and moves his feet well on defense. Andric also has the ability to get off the floor and finish strong around the hoop. Luksa already has better body strength than most players his age in Europe and his frame looks very good, so adding more weight shouldn’t be a problem for him.

Offensively, Andric was a non-factor in his team’s game for most of the season, but is showing some intriguing skills lately by being Cibona’s best scorer in the first three games of the Croatian championship. He has a nice jumper with the range out to the international three-point line and is able to hit it on a good clip when given time and space. His mechanics look rather solid, but he doesn’t get the opportunity to show it off much in the game since he is strictly a utility player in the team concept at this point. Occasionally Andric shows the ability to score with his back to the basket, exhibiting a nice spin move and half-hook shot.

On defense, Andric has all the tools to become a very good defender at least at the European level. As mentioned, he has quick feet and good length, but also shows great intensity and aggressiveness, something that is usually not in common with European bigs. He is very active as a help defender often switching on smaller players on the perimeter and being able to disrupt them from getting into the lane. Andric shows the tenacity and willingness to go after balls in the paint, making him along with his athletic ability a capable rebounder, especially on the offensive end where he has a nose for the ball and often gets a rebound or tip-in by just being in the right place at the right time.

Andric is an energy player; a hustler, always giving everything he has on the floor and earning coach Anzulovic’s praise for his attitude more often than any of his teammates. He is a hard worker and solid citizen on and off the court.

Weaknesses
Andric is already 21 years old and is still a pretty raw and inexperienced player at this level. Almost all of his skills need polishing and refinement, so he has plenty of work in front of him for next season if he wants to have a legit shot at being selected in the NBA draft. Since he is a decent, but not phenomenal athlete, being picked purely on potential isn’t something he can rely on.

Luksa’s biggest problem currently is his inability to stay on the floor because of foul trouble. Has commits fouls at one of, if not the quickest rates in Europe, averaging a foul every three minutes he is on the floor. He is often too aggressive on the defensive end, using his hands excessively and being too physical with his opponents for the European referees’ liking. He will need to learn how to limit his fouls while not compromising his defensive ability, because his team will depend much more on him next season.

Sometimes he finds himself out of position defensively, because he wants to help on the perimeter too much. On rebounding he relies much more on his athleticism than on pure fundamentals.

Offensively, Luksa doesn’t show the softest touch around the basket and his post moves are severely limited. It is hard to evaluate his offensive game since he doesn’t get many touches, but with the exception of his jump-shot, he doesn’t have any reliable tools on this end. He doesn’t posses the skill-set you usually find in European power forwards, and he’s not a flashy player by any means. Andric is not good decision maker; often playing more with his heart than his head.

Competition
Last year Andric was on loan at Dubrava (Croatian First Division) where he averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1 block in 26.5 minutes per contest, while shooting around 40 % from downtown on over 2 attempts per game.

This season he plays for the Euroleague team Cibona Zagreb for around 10 minutes per contest in both the Euroleague and Adriatic league, averaging slightly over 3 ppg and 2 rpg, while commiting more then 3 fouls per contest. He had some good games in recently started Croatian Championship, averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds in the first three games, but was able to stay on the court for just 21 mpg due to foul trouble. It was a big chance for him since the three main big men of Cibona where injured (Bennet Davison, Damir Markota and Mate Skelin). Andric is shooting 60% from three-point land this year, but on only 5 attempts.

Outlook
Andric will have to make some serious noise in the Euroleague next year to get himself more attention from the scouts. Time is of the essence for Luksa since he will be automatically eligible for next years draft and will need to work very hard this off-season to address his weaknesses and make himself a legitimately draftable prospect.

If he has type of season his teammate Damir Markota had this year, he could get some love in 2nd round. Luksa will need to achieve something first in Europe, before we can talk the type of impact he could have in the NBA, but his rough and aggressive style of play seems to fit more in the NBA than Europe.

After being on loan at Dubrava last season, Andric returned to Cibona and got some serious playing time on a team that doesn’t give many chances to young players usually.

What makes Andric intriguing is not what he is now, as you can see from stats, but what he might become in the future, since he is nowhere near reaching his ceiling despite already being 21 years old.

Luksa has good conditions to play the game, standing 6-11 with long arms and quick feet. He also shows a great attitude, effort and aggressiveness on the court. His main problem and the reason why he is not getting more playing time is his inability to stay on the floor due to consistent foul-trouble. Andric plays very aggressively on defense, often using his hands excessively and picking up silly fouls in the process. Luksa is also a good rebounder thanks to his physique, especially on the offensive side where he shows good anticipation skills and crashes the glass regularly.

Since his coach used him mostly to wear down opponents’ biggest frontcourt threats with his energy, Andric wasn’t much of a factor on the offensive side. When he got the chance Andric exhibited a nice jumper with range out to international three point line (3 of 5 on the season) and solid mechanics for a big man. He also had some success playing with his back to the basket and putting the ball on the floor, but these two skills look unpolished at the moment, as does his entire game. Since he will be automatically eligible for next year’s draft, Andric will need to play very well next season to get consideration in the 2nd round. Even if he doesn’t get drafted, Andric is a guy to keep an eye on, since he could gather interest from the NBA later in his career if he reaches his full potential.

Andric’s entry was a nice surprise yesterday, because he wasn’t expected to see much if any playing time. Coach Anzulovic decided to use him instead of the more experienced Ivan Perincic. Andric was backing up Markota and did it reasonably well. He has a well built body for a European player his age and a nice frame, although some additional pounds wouldn’t hurt. He was impressing in defense with his size and athleticism contesting many shots, getting deflections and two nice blocks in the process. He is not as quick as Markota or Papac, but is a decent athlete with good footspeed in the post. He was especially good in man to man defense when he stayed in front of his man rather easily and disrupted him to get his shot off.

Papac is a good rebounder who boxes out better than most youngsters, while showing good body control and soft hands. Offensively he didn’t do much as there aren’t and probably won’t be any plays called for him, while he isn’t skilled enough at the moment to create his own shot. He has range on his jumper out to three-point land and his mechanics are good, but in this game he didn’t try to shoot from outside except for on one occasion. Cibona’s roster is pretty loaded so when Davison comes back Andric might see only garbage time, which is a shame for him as he could probably play major minutes in some of the lesser quality clubs in the Adriatic league.