Goran Dragic plays his farewell game in Slovenia

Kateryna Skrypnyk August 29, 2024

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Goran Dragic plays his farewell game in Slovenia

Goran Dragic, the renowned Slovenian basketball player, bid farewell to the sport in a charity match alongside teammates and basketball legends. From a second-round draft pick to an NBA All-Star, Dragic’s career was celebrated globally on 25 August.

Night of the Dragon, Dragic’s Farewell charity game

On 24 August, Goran Dragic marked the end of his illustrious career with a special charity game in Slovenia. Surrounded by friends, family, and fellow athletes, the international basketball icon played his final game, which was attended by celebrities and teammates who have been part of his journey.

The event, dubbed the “Night of the Dragon,” featured a match between Dragic and his teammates against Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic. Former NBA teammates, including Steve Nash and Chris Bosh, and global legends like Dirk Nowitzki and Nikola Jokic, joined Dragic in his final high-profile appearance on the court.

The proceeds from the charity game and related events were donated to the Botrstvo v športu program by the Friends of Youth Foundation Ljubljana Moste-Polje and the Goran Dragic Foundation.

Dragic’s family legacy with Phoenix Suns

During the event, Dragic also played a one-on-one match with his brother Zoran, who was briefly his teammate with the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat during the 2014-15 season. The Suns acquired Goran after he was selected 45th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. Initially known as a backup point guard to Steve Nash, Dragic gained fame by scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 in the 2010 Western Conference semi-finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

In 2012, Dragic returned to the Suns as a free agent, where he emerged as a standout player, earning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and a spot on the All-NBA Third Team in 2013-14.

A subsequent trade to the Miami Heat marked another chapter in sportsman’s career. The 6’3″ left-hander led Slovenia to an unexpected championship at EuroBasket 2017. The following season, Dragic was named an NBA All-Star for the Eastern Conference and played a key role in the Heat’s run to the 2020 NBA Finals.

Over his career, Dragic averaged between 16 and 21 points per game in five different seasons, playing a total of 946 games. His 4,405 career assists rank him 97th in NBA history. The Slovenian national basketball team has honoured his contributions by retiring his No. 3 jersey.