Goran Dragic has entered the next phase of his life after retiring from professional basketball. But before doing so, he made sure that his farewell game in his native city of Ljubljana last August would be one to remember.
Goran Dragic
Goran Dragic
Position: PG, SG
Age: 38
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Birth place: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Several prominent NBA stars like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Dirk Nowitzki were there to honor the retired player. Still, Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn't attend, as he had to be present in his own marriage.
"I talked to him. Of course, he explained to me why he couldn't come. And that's totally understandable. And we would love to have him there. But unfortunately, it didn't happen. Giannis is a tremendous human being, amazing player," Gragic told Sportal's Nicole Ploumistou.
The two stars’ relationship took a further step when Dragic spent a few months playing in Milwaukee during the final stage of his NBA career. Giannis was one of the key players who welcomed the Slovenian point guard into the Bucks organization, and the two shared many off-court experiences during that time.
"Usually it was more competition because I play mostly against him, especially with Miami in playoffs against Milwaukee," Gragic recalled.
"But then, in my last season of my career, I spent three months in Milwaukee. So we really hang out together, me, Giannis and Thanasis. Most of the times when we were traveling to other cities for a game, we would play cards and just joke around. I love Thanasis and Giannis, they're great guys," he stressed.
Asked about the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, Dragic admitted that he didn't see it coming.
"Nobody expected it. For sure, not for Luka because he's one of the best players in the league. And he's still young. He's 25 years old. So he has a lot more games ahead of him. And I would assume that every team in the NBA would like to build a future with him," he said.
"You know, with Dallas, that was not the case. But if I look at it right now, I think that's good for him because the Lakers are the biggest franchise in the NBA. I think it's a bigger market. I think that they're going to build a team around him. They're not going to be afraid to spend money and to bring somebody to help him, and he's going to have a bigger chance to win the championship," Dragic noted.
The 38-year-old recalled that he was in Rio when the news on the trade broke. At first, he had a hard time believing what he was hearing.
"I was like, what is this Brazilian news? I thought it was not real. And then after a while, you get text messages from friends, from the people around the league. And it really happened."
Dragic also added that he didn't call Doncic, as he had been in that situation before when he was traded to Miami in 2015.
"My situation was a little bit different because I was expecting it," he recalled. "I was prepared. But, for him, it was very different.
He just had a newborn baby six months ago. And it's not easy when you have to move to the new city to meet new people, new organization. I didn't want to call him because he was going through a lot. But I did send him a text message," he said.
Dragic and Doncic used to be the perfect duo for Slovenia. But now Luka has formed another combo with LeBron James, which Dragic calls 'amazing.'
"It was funny to hear news that everybody, especially in US media, was talking about that LeBron and Luka cannot play together," he pointed out.
"Both of those players are unselfish. Both of those guys can pass the ball. So their IQ is really high. I always thought they're going to play well together. I think Luka can learn a lot from LeBron, especially his longevity.
When I played with Luka, it was a little bit different, because at that time, he was only 17 years old. So I took him under my wings. Now he's a superstar. He's one of the best players in the world. So it's way different," Dragic contrasted the different stages in Doncic's career.
One of the most significant players Dragic mentored during his time in Miami was Kendrick Nunn. After being undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, Nunn’s career took an unexpected turn when he joined the Heat’s roster. He played a key role in Miami’s deep playoff run during the 2020 season and quickly became one of the team’s breakout stars.
However, by the end of the 2021 season, Nunn was looking for more playing time and exploring different career paths. Dragic, who had an insider's knowledge of both the NBA and EuroLeague, advised Nunn on his potential transition to Europe.
"Goran Dragic helped me a lot there. At the time, Kendrick was training with Zoran Dragic in Miami, so Goran allowed me to explain everything to Nunn," Panathinaikos GM Sani Becirovic recalled in an interview with Meridian Sport.
"He told him that we grew together in the national team, that he would be fine in Panathinaikos, and then I approached him and said that adapting to Europe is not easy but that with the coach we have, we should be his first pick."
Dragic remembered that Nunn was eagerly waiting for an NBA call in the summer of 2023. So, when that call didn't come and Becirovic was appointed to the GM position at PAO, things became easier for the EuroLeague powerhouse to attract the former NBA guard.
"Sani called me about Kendrick Nunn. And I told him that I'm right here with him. I'm practicing with him," Dragic recounted.
"Sani was a huge fan. And he wanted to bring him there. And then, of course, I had a conversation with K-Nunn and told him all about Greece, Athens, Panathenaikos, EuroLeague, and everything.
And then he decided that it's time to move on and to sign with Panathinaikos. I'm so happy for him because he brought them a EuroLeague championship."
Dragic called his ex-teammate a 'tremendous player and human being' and pointed out that Nunn is enjoying his time in Athens.
"I always felt that Kendrick is that type of player who can play anywhere. He can play EuroLeague. He can play NBA. He's really skilled, you know, especially he's really gifted. He can score the ball.
Most of American players don't know how tough and how good the EuroLeague is. But now, he sees that it's a really competitive league, that there are a lot of good players," Dragic highlighted.
At Panathinaikos, Kendrick Nunn has formed a formibable pairing with Kostas Sloukas. Comparing the two All-EuroLeague selections with Luka Doncic and LeBron James would be a big stretch. But Dragic can see the analogy.
"LeBron and Luka, they're much bigger," he said.
"But then, it's really important for Kendrick Nunn and Sloukas to play together because they're both guys that make a great decision-making for everybody else. So, they're making the game much easier. Sloukas is a leader in that locker room. So, they're definitely a great combo."
One of the most frequently discussed ideas in recent years has been the possibility of a European-style league being created in the NBA’s image. Dragić is cautious about such an idea, suggesting that while it could bring more financial opportunities to European players, it would also change the very essence of what makes European basketball unique.
While he believes there is room for growth, especially in terms of expanding the league’s revenue and exposure, he also stresses that the authenticity of European basketball should not be compromised for commercial reasons.
"It's tough," he argued.
"I think that EuroLeague and European basketball has a lot of history. You cannot just erase this. We don't know if EuroLeague wants to work with the NBA and create that league. Definitely, what EuroLeague should take from NBA is the marketing ability and how the league is making revenues.
But if you ask me, I prefer the old, you know, you see, I don't know, Panathinaikos playing against Partizan or Partizan playing against Barcelona, Real Madrid. Those teams have legacy, they have history."
Even though Goran Dragic admitted that he doesn't get to watch as many EuroLeague games as in the past, when his brother Zoran was playing there, he picked Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, Real Madrid, and 'his team' Partizan to make the Final Four in Abu Dhabi.
"I would love them to make it," he said about Partizan. "Zeljko Obradovic, one of the best coaches in Europe, won many titles with Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce.
We all know he's a legend. And I would love to see Partizan in Final Four. But it's still a long way to go. So, let's say Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Partizan and Red Star," Dragic amended his first take. "That would be amazing."
In terms of the next EuroBasket, Dragic named Serbia as the main candidate to win gold.
"They have a lot of good players, good coaches," he emphasized.
"Then, of course, you cannot stay away from France with [Victor] Wembanyama. Great talent. Then, Germany is strong. Greece, with Giannis, is always tough... So, I would say those teams are the favorites."
Dragic was also asked to rank Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Giannis Anetokounmpo, and Steph Curry.
"Each player is unique. Each player plays different basketball. And each player is a winner," he responded.
"There are four MVPs here. The only one missing is Luka. But I believe that in the future, he's going to win it. He will be the MVP. But right now, I would put one player above everybody. And that's Nikola Jokic.
He's won three MVPs. And this year, his numbers are better than the years that he won MVPs. So, it's unbelievable. It looks like he's getting better and better each year. And he seems like it is really easy for him to do it.
Everybody would love to have Giannis on the team. The hustle, the blocks, the scoring ability... It's just a matter of who you prefer, what kind of basketball you prefer, what kind of style. But everybody is a future Hall of Famer."
Full interview:
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