CRO - Draper sacrifices minutes for a shot at glory

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Dontaye Draper has become a "Mr Fix It" the past couple of years with both club and country.

A player good enough to start for most teams, Draper has instead had to bide his time on the bench and be ready when his name is called.

He can read a game so well when the coach puts him into the game, he doesn't need to be told what to do.

Capable of being a superstar, Draper humbly accepts a lesser but very important role with both Real Madrid and Croatia.

"I've been in different roles all of my life," Draper said to FIBA.

"Before I came here to (Real Madrid), I had been a scorer, an MVP of the Eurocup (in 2010-11 with Cedevita).

"I did everything.

"My first years at college (College of Charleston), my role was the same as it is now (with Real).

"My role is to just come in and change the game, usually on the defensive end.

"One night, it might be to penetrate, making some shots.

"Most of the time, it's defense."

Draper reads a game so well that he could be a coach one day, or a television analyst.

"No, too shy," he said. "I might be a scout, though."

Draper hasn't been able to play for nearly a month while he recovers from a toe fracture, but he will be ready for Real's most important games of the season.

They are unbeaten in the Spanish Liga Endesa at 22-0, and also still only with one loss in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

Real are looking like a side that is headed back to the Euroleague Final Four, although some more Top 16 games and a play-off series will have to be won first.

After that, Draper will take a deep breath and consider his summer plans.

Another team will be looking for his services.

Croatia are going to be at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and could sure benefit from Draper's talent, smarts and savvy.

His overall performance last year was crucial.

In their pivotal second game against Georgia at last year's EuroBasket, Croatia were short on confidence after an opening day mauling at the hands of Spain.

Draper came off the bench and jolted the squad into life.

He hit four of five three-balls on his way to a team-high 16 points in a 77-76 win.

Draper provided the assist to Ante Tomic for the go-ahead basket with just nine seconds remaining.

The 1.81m guard had a similar impact in a 76-68 victory over Italy to help the Croatians book a spot in the Quarter-Finals.

Then, in an 84-72 last-eight victory over Ukraine that punched Croatia's ticket to the World Cup, Draper had six points, six assists and four steals.

No player was better at consistently coming off the bench and shoring up a team's weakness than Draper was for Croatia.

Draper says that for a team to be successful, its players must know their roles.

"I've got to put my ego to the side and do what's best for me and my career, and the team," he said.

So will he be at the World Cup?

"It's going to be difficult," he said.

"I'm getting old (laughs).

"But the World Championship is big, so we'll see. I'm very tempted.

"We'll see how my body holds up. I'm not just going to turn it down.

"If I'm healthy, I'll play.

"If not, then I'll have to watch what I'll do in the next years."

FIBA