Goran Dragic: Making a career in the NBA
PLAYING in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for nearly a decade now, Slovenian Goran Dragic is one of the foreign players who have made a successful career in the league, thanks to good old hard work and being patient.
In a recent videoconference with a group of local sportswriters at the Cisco Philippines office in Taguig City, 30-year-old Dragic said his NBA career took some time to take off but is nonetheless satisfied with how it is panning out.
Started his career with the Phoenix Suns in 2008 as a second-round selection in the draft, Mr. Dragic played two years with the Houston Rockets after, then returned to the Valley of the Suns before landing with the Miami Heat in 2015 via trade.
“At first, when I got to the NBA it was a culture and basketball shock for me. It’s different from where I came from. Basketball here is different. It’s more physical. As a foreign player, I did not play right away in my first few years but I stayed patient and worked hard,” Mr. Dragic said of his start in the NBA.
“I just waited for my opportunity and just tried to be ready each time. Then my number was called and I made it a point to deliver,” added Mr. Dragic, who also said that it is the same advice he would give to those dreaming of making it big in the NBA.
Currently, the eight-year veteran guard is having one of his best seasons in The Association, punctuated by a career-high average in scoring of 20 points per game, to go along with 5.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 33 minutes on the floor.
He has also helped the Heat (35-38) turn what seemingly was a lost cause for them this year, after going 19 games below the .500 mark, to a team now very much in the running for a playoff spot.
IMPRESSIVE PUSH
Mr. Dragic said the impressive push they are having of late is attributable to the team chemistry that eluded them early in the season.
“We are finally developing the chemistry that we need. At the start of the season it was really tough because we had to deal with lot of injuries, the players were in and out of the lineup. We had the most different starting lineups in the NBA. We finally got bodies back and are clicking as a team,” he said.
And now that they are in the mix for a spot in the postseason, the point guard said they are go- ing to try their best to see themselves advance to the next round.
“For us, every game counts now. It’s really important that we come in every day and put in the needed work. That’s gonna be the key to our success. If we prepare each time we step on the court, we’re gonna be fine. And hopefully no more injuries for us moving forward,” Mr. Dragic said.
As of this writing, the Heat occupy the eighth spot in the East, two games behind joint number five teams Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, which have identical 37-36 records.
Miami, however, is just half a game ahead of the number nine team Chicago Bulls (35-39) and a game up over the Detroit Pistons ( 34- 39), which are at number 10.
Mr. Dragic and the Heat play the Pistons today in Detroit. —