“ It was huge. He will allow (Steve) Nash to extend his career by five or six years if he continues to play like this. » This is how Alvin Gentry, coach of the Suns at the time, expressed himself in May 2010 regarding the heat stroke of a player still little known to the general public: Goran Dragic.
Despite this unexpected performance (26 points in… 17 minutes) in the second round of the playoffs against the Spurs, the Slovenian will still have to bide his time before exploding on the NBA scene. Modest 45th choice in the 2008 Draft, he himself could hardly have imagined what happened next.
“ I have always had confidence in myself. Even when I played in Europe, even when I arrived in the NBA. I'm not going to lie, there were some tough times, especially at the beginning. I didn't play much, I had to fight against adversity », remembers, from Hoopshypethe former playmaker, long helmed by Steve Nash.
Steve Nash, his mentor
Barred, but supported by the one he considers one of his “ mentors », just like Grant Hill. “ They gave me a path to follow and I saw they were working hard, so I did the same », Remarks Goran Dragic who, through contact with the double MVP, learned to become a professional.
And, in the game, how to make the right reads, play the “pick-and-roll”, how to transmit the leather… “ He and Amare Stoudemire were the best at it. This needs to be worked on. He worked with me and I learned: it helped me enormously in my career. »
“ And then the transfer happened “, he continues, talking about February 2011, when the Suns decided to send him to Houston in exchange for Aaron Brooks. “ It was one of those moments where I doubted myself, but everyone has doubts. The most important thing is how you deal with it, and I said to myself: 'Okay, let's go to training every day, let's improve, and see how things go.' »
And things will go pretty well. His arrival in Texas will allow him to gain minutes and move into the Rockets' five.
So much so that once Steve Nash left, he returned to the Suns in 2012, with whom he won the trophy for best progression in 2014, in addition to an All-NBA selection, with more than 20 points on average.
Fifteen years of career
The left-hander subsequently opened the second big chapter of his career with the Heat. A stint punctuated by an All-Star selection in 2018, and an NBA final in 2020. He will subsequently have other more anecdotal experiences with the Raptors, Nets, Bulls or Bucks, to reach 15 years of career in the Big League.
“ Of course, when you're a kid you always dream of one day making it to the NBA, but I never thought I'd play for 15 years. I was really lucky to be able to do it. Of course, I always dreamed of an NBA ring. I made the Finals, I was close, but I never reached that goal. But in life there are difficult times and pleasant times », he puts things into perspective.
He adds: “ If I look back, I had a great career. I played in many playoff games, I was part of an All-NBA team, I was an All-Star… As a kid, I would have signed right away (laughs). As a child, I only thought about reaching the league. In the end, I really think I exceeded my goals. »
| Goran Dragic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2008-09 | PHX | 55 | 13 | 39.3 | 37.0 | 76.9 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 4.5 |
| 2009-10 | PHX | 80 | 18 | 45.2 | 39.4 | 73.6 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 7.9 |
| 2010-11 * | All Teams | 70 | 18 | 43.5 | 36.1 | 62.4 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 7.5 |
| 2010-11 * | PHX | 48 | 18 | 42.1 | 27.7 | 60.8 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 7.4 |
| 2010-11 * | HOU | 22 | 17 | 47.2 | 51.9 | 66.7 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 7.7 |
| 2011-12 | HOU | 66 | 27 | 46.2 | 33.7 | 80.5 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 11.7 |
| 2012-13 | PHX | 77 | 34 | 44.3 | 31.9 | 74.8 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 7.4 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 14.7 |
| 2013-14 | PHX | 76 | 35 | 50.5 | 40.8 | 76.0 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 20.3 |
| 2014-15 * | All Teams | 78 | 34 | 50.1 | 34.7 | 77.4 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 16.4 |
| 2014-15 * | PHX | 52 | 33 | 50.1 | 35.5 | 74.6 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 16.2 |
| 2014-15 * | MIA | 26 | 35 | 50.2 | 32.9 | 80.8 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 16.6 |
| 2015-16 | MIA | 72 | 33 | 47.7 | 31.2 | 72.7 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 14.1 |
| 2016-17 | MIA | 73 | 34 | 47.5 | 40.5 | 79.0 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 5.8 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 20.3 |
| 2017-18 | MIA | 75 | 32 | 45.0 | 37.0 | 80.1 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 17.3 |
| 2018-19 | MIA | 36 | 28 | 41.3 | 34.8 | 78.2 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 13.7 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 59 | 28 | 44.1 | 36.7 | 77.6 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 16.2 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 50 | 27 | 43.2 | 37.3 | 82.8 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 13.4 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 21 | 24 | 37.7 | 25.4 | 81.8 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 7.5 |
| 2021-22 * | BRK | 16 | 26 | 37.6 | 24.5 | 73.9 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 7.3 |
| 2021-22 * | TOR | 5 | 18 | 38.2 | 28.6 | 100.0 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 8.0 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 10 | 18 | 42.1 | 50.0 | 71.4 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 9.0 |
| Total | 898 | 28 | 46.0 | 36.3 | 76.7 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 13.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
