With his farewell game loaded with stars happening on Saturday, Emmet Ryan pays tribute to Goran Dragic. Whether it was in FIBA action or NBA play, the Dragon roared wherever he played basketball
The Night of the Dragon in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Saturday night promises to be a special one. Goran Dragic will make his final bow on a basketball court, surrounded by greats across FIBA play, Euroleague, and the NBA. It’s a night well-earned by a determined fighter.
Setting an example
Younger readers will be surprised to read this but the stereotype of Europeans in the NBA used to be rather different. Thrilling players like Luka Doncic, Franz Wagner, and Dennis Schroeder were not the norm 20 years ago. There were stars from Europe but the typical image was of overly mechanical players. One where physicality and speed were seen as gaps in those coming across.
Yeah, Goran Dragic wasn’t like that. He grew up idolising Michael Jordan and the man loved to watch Alan Iversen. This was not the typical Euro baller that the Phoenix Suns were getting. Dragic, following in the footsteps of Tony Parker a few years before him, was part of a wave of European players that proved they could be the cool guys on the basketball court.
The technique was still there along with the chip on his shoulder mentality required for the grind. Yet with it came flair and confidence. Dragic has been tremendously influential on the guards that followed him. Doncic is the obvious example but Schroeder possesses that same unbridled confidence. When the ball was in Goran’s hands, his attitude was simple. There’s him, there’s the opponent, and there’s the ball. Let’s see who’s better.
A long road
On the one hand, Goran Dragic already had a decent enough trophy cabinet before getting to the NBA. He was been part of a Union Olimpija (now Cedevita Olimpija) that won the Slovenian league, cup, and super cup in his long season with the club. On the other, it took a while for other laurels to come his way.
He was respected in the NBA but it took a while for him to be acknowledged as a star. By his sixth year, things were starting to click. He made the All-NBA third team in 2014 and became the fourth European to win the Most Improved player award that same season. His lone All Star selection would follow in 2018 as the grind eventually paid off with real recognition.
All the while he kept on trying to raise all basketball in Slovenia with him. He had won gold with their U20 team at the 2004 European championships but the national senior side couldn’t get over the hump. Through seven big tournaments, across EuroBasket and the FIBA World Cup, the small Balkan nation couldn’t taste a medal even with the Dragon on the floor. Then, in one beautiful fortnight in 2017, it all came together.
BallinEurope is ramping up its YouTube game this season. Subscribe to our channel now for player exclusives, analysis videos, and much more.
The magic of Istanbul
The context of the pressure and expectation on Goran Dragic’s shoulders at EuroBasket 2017 is important. In 2013, he and his brother Zoran had been the stars of a Slovenia side that hosted FIBA EuroBasket but failed to make the medal round. That, with both seemingly in their prime, was meant to be the best chance for the Dragon.
The basketball gods thought differently and, like so much of his career, made him grind and wait. That was when Luka Doncic had his breakout tournament. Alongside Goran, the duo fuelled a fiercely exciting Slovenia team through the group stages in Helsinki. Then, in Istanbul, they comfortably got past UKraine in the last 16 and into a war with Latvia in the quarter finals.
After coming out on top in an all time classic, honestly it’s in my top 5 FIBA games I’ve ever witnessed, they got Spain. The all-conquering dominant force on the continent this century. Surely that would be too much. Not a chance, Slovenia dominated them to lock in a first major medal for the nation.
Then Serbia awaited in the final. The drama wasn’t done. Doncic went down injured early and the hope’s of a nation hung by a thread. Once more, Goran stood tall guiding Slovenia to the EuroBasket title. He was MVP of the tournament, he was subsequently honoured as Euroscar player of the year, and Slovenian Sportsman of the Year for his heroics. Goran had gotten in done.
BallinEurope has a book, a real life actual book called I Like it Loud, and you can buy it on Amazon now. It’s here as a book and here in Kindle form.
A fitting tribute
Which brings us to Saturday night in Ljubljana. Stars of today like Doncic and Jokic will play. Chris Bosh is playing his first basketball game since his retirement from the NBA. Dejan Bodiroga, Dirk Nowitzki, and Steve Nash will also appear. Then there’s the non playing participants that include Alvin Gentry, Kevin McHale, and Aleksandar Djordjevic.
It’s a star-studded show for a true star of the game. Goran Dragic may play his last game on Saturday but his influence will live on for a long time.
We all know that Dragic will stay in basketball in some capacity. Yet it’s knowing that we’ll continue to see his influence on a basketball court, be it in the NBA or FIBA events, that warms the soul. Cheers to the Dragon.
Leave a Reply