Goran Dragić and Luka Dončić were teammates for Slovenia, and there was a great chemistry between them. They achieved a huge success with Slovenia when they won the European Championship. This was just the beginning for Luka Dončić and a preview of the career he would have. The story from Goran Dragić highlights how Dončić has always been a mature and talented player.
Ahead of a major event in Slovenia, Goran Dragić shared an interesting anecdote about his national teammate Luka, recalling the time they both led Slovenia to victory over Serbia in the final of the 2017 European Championship, achieving the greatest success for their nation since gaining independence.
Dragic was extremely nervous before the final, not knowing what to expect, considering that they were playing against Serbia, which at that time was one of the strongest European and world teams.
“I was in the room with Luka before the 2017 European Championship final against Serbia. I couldn’t sleep, I was sweating, and then I looked over and saw Luka watching cartoons and sleeping all night. That’s just how he is; it’s an incredible talent, something we haven’t seen before in basketball. The same goes for Nikola Jokić. We’ve talked about this many times. They are just ordinary guys who play the game. I wish all our children could have that—to not feel pressure, to play with a smile, and to enjoy the game,” Dragić said.
Dragić has played 90 games for Slovenia and has had great adventures playing with Miami, Phoenix, Toronto, Brooklyn, Chicago, and Milwaukee. The extent of his career is highlighted by the fact that the Slovenian Basketball Federation will retire the number three jersey in honor of the legendary point guard.
It was Goran Dragic who was the MVP of the final after Slovenia beat Serbia 93 85. Dragic scored 35 points, and at the same time the most points in a single game in Euro Basket 2017.
Goran Dragic in 2017: Doncic is gonna be the best European player in couple of years
Even after the end of the final, Goran Dragic pointed out that Doncic will be one of the best players in Europe, but also in the world. It turned out that his predictions were correct. Today witnessed the dominance of a Slovenian player who is one of the best players in the world, according to some even the best. Doncic is doing impressive things in the Dallas Mavericks jersey, and the question is whether anyone can stop him at this moment. The 25-year-old wants to do even more significant things in the continuation of his career and leave an even bigger mark in the NBA.
“He is gonna be the best european player in couple of years, trust me on that. … … Mark my words, he is gonna be one of the best in the whole world.”-Dragic said.
With Slovenia’s impressive victory over Serbia in the final of the European Championship, 18-year-old Real Madrid guard Luka Dončić showed in 2017 why he was considered one of the most talented young players in the world of basketball. His performance was amazing , as he racked up 27 points (7/14 from the field), one assist, and nine rebounds, earning an outstanding index rating of 29.
In 2017, Dončić demonstrated why he was a top prospect for the upcoming NBA draft. His remarkable achievements at such a young age were unprecedented, with no player of his age having delivered such an impact; something even one of the greatest hadn’t accomplished.
Last year, Dončić had the honor of becoming the captain of the Slovenian national team and expressed how proud and happy he was about it. Following in the footsteps of some great names in Slovenian basketball and becoming captain is certainly something every young player dreams of when they start the sport. Slovenians have every right to be proud of having such a player on their team; one who can change the course of a game at any moment. Being a captain is also a huge responsibility, but the 25-year-old knows how to handle it. Dončić is a world-class player who takes the lead in the NBA, so this role will surely be more of a motivation and drive for him rather than a burden, pushing him to achieve even greater success
“It’s an honor, a proud moment. It was decided by my coach and teammates. Nothing new for me. I have already been a leader in the locker room, and also at the Mavericks. It will be difficult to replace Edo Muric and Goran Dragic, who was the captain at EuroBasket 2017. They are two great players,” said Doncic about his new role.
