Goran Dragic (GO-ran DRAG-itch), a 22-year old Slovenian point guard, has signed a four-year deal with the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are trying to find a backup and eventual replacement for the 34-year old, two-time NBA MVP, Steve Nash.
“(Goran) has to come and has to compete for a backup spot behind Steve,” Phoenix’s General Manager Steve Kerr said. “Hopefully he’ll learn and develop behind Steve and potentially be our starter someday. We’ll see if that happens.”
“It’s difficult adding a guy who can fill the role of point guard and we feel he has an excellent chance at doing that and are thrilled to have gotten him.”
Right now, the 6-4 Dragic is one of Europe’s up-and-coming European guards. Left-handed, Goran is more a pass-first point guard with a fiery, competitive edge, and a shaky outside shot. Dragic plays similarly to Manu Ginobili with a lot of herky jerky movements and slick, savvy moves around the basket.
Dragic was the 45th overall pick of 2008’s NBA draft, and required a buyout by Phoenix in order to come to the NBA. “When I was a kid, it was my dream to play in the NBA,” the left-handed point guard told the Arizona Republic after the draft “It was my wish that the Suns pick me.”
The Suns convinced Tau Ceramica, the club that owned Dragic’s rights, to relent on his contract which disallowed a buyout until next season. The Suns contributed the maximum $500,000 of the $2 million required buyout. Though owned by TAU, the combo-guard was loaned to Union Olimpija last season where he averaged 9.7 points, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 13 games for the Adriatic club.
NBA.com comes up with this evaluation of Dragic:
Listed at 6-4. Dragic possesses a 6-7 wingspan to go along with his wiry frame that allows him to defend taller players. A southpaw, he’s crafty with the ball and can slice through the lane in. He looks a little like fellow countryman and Sacramento King guard Beno Udrih on the floor, but he is much more athletic.
Goran Dragic grew up idolizing Sasha Danilovic, dreamed of playing in the NBA, and was so excited about the prospect of playing in the NBA that he spent 42 hours on a plane roundtrip from Europe to Phoenix, so the Suns could get one last look at him before the draft. All in all, Dragic spent less than 2 hours doing workout and drills before hopping back on a plane.
That experience hasn’t dampened his spirits at all, the young guard that played for Union Olimpija last season is ecstatic at the prospect of being in the NBA, “Amaré, Shaq, Steve Nash are some of the best players in the NBA. These were players I watched as a kid and it was my dream to play with them. I like to play fast-break basketball like they do here in Phoenix, play defense and pass the ball to my open teammates.” Dragic said.
Along with Sasha Vujacic, Rasho Nesterovic, and Beno Udrih, Dragic will be the fourth Slovenian in the NBA this season, he would have been the fifth had Bostjan Nachbar not decided to return to Europe and sign with Dynamo Moscow.
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