Without Vladimir Radmanovic, Seattle SuperSonics Coach Nate McMillan might not have been in a position to make the change to the up-tempo offense he has installed for his team this season and that has resulted in an average of 101.2 points per game so far. At 6-10, 234, and with range extending well beyond the three-point line, Radmanovic hardly fits the traditional power forward mold. Which is exactly what makes him and the Sonics so difficult to defend.

Radmanovic has an unusually sweet shot for a big man. Garrett Elwood/NBAE/Getty

McMillan’s Indiana counterpart, Rick Carlisle, made that fact clear when discussing tonight’s game with the Sonics, saying, “They're an absolute nightmare to try to deal with defensively because they've always got four guys on the floor who can make 3s.”

Radmanovic also recognizes the problem he poses.

“I think it’s better for our team,” he said of the new offense before the Sonics took on Portland last Friday. “We’re a really quick, physical team. We can run up and down the court. There’s not many teams who can run like that. We have to use it. Most of the teams that have big guys, they cannot run that much, and if you have fast-break points during the game, you’re going to disrupt them. We’re trying to force teams to play our game.”

But offense has never been the issue with Radmanovic, who made 42% of his three-point attempts as a rookie to rank 17th in the NBA, just ahead of Serbian countryman Predrag Stojakovic. Last season, Radmanovic averaged 10.1 points per game, good for fourth amongst players who finished the year with the Sonics. Still, Radmanovic started just 16 games, three of them after Feb. 1, because of then-rookie Reggie Evans’ superiority on the boards and the defensive end of the court.

It was clear to everyone, including Radmanovic, that improvement had to be made entering a pivotal third NBA season. To his credit, Radmanovic went to work. While most of his teammates were at home, enjoying their off-season, Radmanovic was here in Seattle, a couple of continents and an ocean away from home. Not only did Radmanovic play with the Sonics summer-league team despite his experience, he also spent several weeks beforehand working out with coaches.

“Last summer,” Radmanovic said, “I just decided to come here, work out here with the coaches, play summer league, and I think I improved my game, got some credit with the coaches, and now I’m playing, I’m satisfied.”

In part, Radmanovic’s ascension to the opening-day starting lineup was due to a season-ending injury to Nick Collison, who was expected to challenge for a starting spot. But Radmanovic still had to leapfrog Evans in the Sonics rotation, which he did almost effortlessly. Radmanovic was McMillan’s starting power forward from day one of training camp, and his role was never put in jeopardy. A starting assignment was really all Radmanovic ever wanted on an individual level.

“It’s important for me because I like to be in the game from the beginning of the game, when I’m warmed up and ready to play, instead of coming off the bench and needing some time to warm up and get in a rhythm,” Radmanovic explained. “It’s important and I’ll try to keep it as long as I can.”

The evidence pretty clearly backs up Radmanovic’s assertion that he is more comfortable as a starter. Last year, Radmanovic averaged 13.4 points and 6.2 rebounds as a starter, just 9.1 ppg and 4.0 rpg off the bench. The biggest difference was in his shooting. A 44.4% shooter overall as a starter, Radmanovic made just 39.8% of his attempts off the bench.

Radmanovic has been a consistent presence on the boards this season. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

The numbers don’t illustrate the qualitative difference seen in Radmanovic’s defense. As a rookie, Radmanovic did a fine job defensively when he stepped into the power forward spot for an injured Vin Baker during Feb. 2002. Last season, much of that potential was lost, as Radmanovic frequently struggled defensively. So far in 2003, so good. Radmanovic leads the Sonics with 13 steals through six games and has also blocked six shots. Aside from 20+ point efforts from All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Elton Brand, Radmanovic has done a fine job defensively.

That game against the Blazers illustrated how the Sonics can use Radmanovic. Playing against Zach Randolph, one of the surprises of the NBA this season and averaging better than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, Radmanovic allowed 19 points but harassed Randolph into a season-high six turnovers. On the other end, Radmanovic utilized his advantages in speed and quickness to score 19 points as the Sonics ran past Portland, 100-82.

Based on performances like that, Radmanovic dismissed the opinion that he isn’t suited for the power forward position.

“I’m not a typical power forward, but I can play that position, and I think I’ve proved that to everybody,” Radmanovic said.

“Maybe I don’t have their strength, but I have speed and I have some other qualities that I have and I’m trying to use that against them.”

Radmanovic has also picked up his performance on the boards this season. He currently leads the Sonics in rebounding, averaging 8.0 boards per game, and has grabbed at least six rebounds in every game this season. Part of the increase from last season’s 4.5 rebound average is because Radmanovic is now playing starter’s minutes, but his per-48 minute rebound rate has increased 18.5% to 9.76 boards per 48 minutes. According to Radmanovic, the improvement has come in part because of a change in attitude.

“I didn’t rebound well the first two years, probably because I didn’t realize how important it is for a team,” he explained. “This year, I’m doing my best in that part of my game, and, as I said, it’s going well so far. I’ll try to stay focused and keep rebounding.”

In a twist, the part of Radmanovic’s game he needs to pick up at the moment is his scoring. Though he is doing a much better job of using his ballhandling ability to create shots, Radmanovic simply hasn’t been able to knock them down early in the season. Even after scoring a season-high 22 points and making 3-for-4 from three-point range against Milwaukee, Radmanovic is still shooting just 35.2% from the field and 28.1% from beyond the arc.

In due time, it is certain, Radmanovic’s shooting touch will return on a consistent basis. When it does, not only will the Sonics be a more dangerous offensive team, he will have blossomed into a complete player during his third NBA season.