Goran Dragic, fresh off from leading the Miami Heat to an improbable 41-41 record in the 2016-2017 NBA season, will suit up for Slovenia in the Fiba Eurobasket 2017. In 2013, Dragic also played for Slovenia when the country hosted the FIBA EuroBasket. Slovenia was defeated by the eventual champion France during the tournament quarterfinals.

Slovenia reinforced

Goran Dragic has proven that he can lead a team. Dragic averaged 20.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 1 steal per game for the Miami Heat during the 2016-2017 NBA season. While Miami failed to qualify for the playoffs, the Heat finished the season strong, going 30-11 after starting 11-30.

For the FIBA EuroBasket 2017, Slovenia will be reinforced by naturalized big man Anthony Randolph. Randolph is a former first round pick by the Golden State Warriors in 2008 who now plays for Real Madrid Baloncesto. Randolph averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game per game in 7 NBA seasons (4 teams including the Warriors, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Nuggets). The former NBA player averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game for Real Madrid.

Joining Dragic and Randolph for national team duty is the 18-year-old Luka Doncic, a potential NBA number 1 pick.

The 6-foot-8 phenom is Randolph’s teammate at Real Madrid and has shown flashes of brilliance. He has great on court vision which allows him to play as the primary ball handler, a relatively good three-point shot, and has good instincts when put in a pick-and-roll situation.

Slovenia currently has 18 players on its squad.

Joining Dragic, Randolph and Doncic are Jaka Blazic, Edo Muric, Luka Pupnik, Tomaz Bolcina, Gregor Hrovat, Aleksej Nikolic, Klemen Prepelic, Zan Mark Sisko, Vlatko Cancar, Gasper Vidmar, Ziga Dimec, Miha Laopornik, Sasa Zagorac, Blaz Mahkovic, and Matic Rebec.

Former NBA player Zoran Dragic is out of the lineup due to injury.

Vlatko Cancar was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 2017 NBA Draft.

2017 EuroBasket Schedule

According to the FIBA Eurobasket site, Goran Dragic and company will face off with France, Greece, Iceland, Poland, and the host Finland in Group A action of the FIBA EuroBasket 2017. Slovenia, ranked number 12 in the world, is coached by Igor Kokoskov and will play Poland on August 31, Finland on September 2, Greece on September 3, Iceland on September 5, and France on September 6.

Goran Dragic will be relied upon heavily by the Slovenian National Team to lead them past the Group Stage and beyond. The former NBA Most Improved Player and 2014 All-NBA Third Team member has scored 721 points in 70 games for Slovenia, ranking him number 4 all-time for his country.

The man NBA fans call the “Dragon” is focused on his national team duty this summer, bringing with him the single-mindedness and leadership qualities that allowed him to spearhead the Miami Heat to come back from a disastrous first half. Recently, Dragic’s name has been mentioned in connection to the Kyrie Irving trade rumors. That, however, is not enough to distract Dragic as he intends to lead the Slovenians to atone for that quarterfinal exit in their home court.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED