All-Star experience is a dream come true
Heat guard Dragic is first from Slovenia to accomplish feat
LOS ANGELES — Heat guard Goran Dragic stopped just short of calling it a victory for his country.
When Dragic learned he would be playing in his first NBA All-Star Game, he quickly realized he was the first player from his native Slovenia to accomplish the feat. It was the capper of what has been a long journey to becoming one of the league’s top players.
“For me it means a lot,” Dragic said. “For my country, for my people for my family, we have a lot of NBA players in this league, I think eight of them won an NBA championship ring but this is the first time that a Slovenian player makes it. I’m really proud of it.”
It has taken Dragic 10 years to reach this point. He arrived in the league as an unknown with the Phoenix Suns and now will take the stage with the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and James Harden tonight at Staples Center.
A humble beginning almost led him back to his country.
“When I came to the NBA the first year I didn’t play a lot and it was really tough for me,” Dragic said. “I was thinking to go back to Europe. Luckily I had mentors like Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Amar’e Stoudemire next to me and they were always saying, ‘be patient, you’re going to get your opportunity as long as you stay ready.’ ”
Despite being selected as an alternate because of injuries to John Wall and Kevin Love, Dragic has enjoyed the experience to the fullest. He flew in his parents from Slovenia and was accompanied by his wife and kids. Life is, indeed, good. “At the end of the day that really happened and I got a chance, I played well,” Dragic said. “I’m really satisfied how my career went from that point on. It’s been a tremendous year for me. At 31 years old, first time All-Star, won a gold medal with my national team. It’s been unbelievable.”
Dragic has soaked in the entire trip. He’s dined with family in downtown Los Angeles. He’s participated in various NBA-scheduled events.
“It’s been busy,” Dragic said. “We went to a lot of different events, tried to soak it in and tried to enjoy every moment. This is something that is completely new to me and my family but we want to enjoy every moment. It’s fun.”
Dragic spent Saturday willingly answering each media question regardless of how silly they were. On Saturday, he was asked what Olympic sport he would compete in. While some players scoffed at questions as such, Dragic took it with ease.
“Maybe skiing,” Dragic said. “I did ski a lot before my professional career. Maybe that. When I retire, definitely I’m going to try it again.”
It was just Dragic’s way of showing nothing could bring him down the past few days. He treated each experience as if it were his last.
“It seemed like his spirts were real high,” Heat guard Wayne Ellington said. “He was excited. He had a lot of enthusiasm. He was about to go do some NBA Care [event]. He was excited. I’m so happy for him because nobody deserves it like him. That guy puts his body on the line.”
Playing in his first AllStar game has allowed him to move past the disappointment of it taking so long. He has been passed over several times, including when he was named Third-Team All-NBA in 2014.
“Of course, I would want to be one earlier,” Dragic said. “It doesn’t matter. I was always a humble guy and I always even if I didn’t make it try to turn it into a positive, try to practice more and hopefully someday that moment is going to come and it did and I’m really happy for this. But it doesn’t matter if you’re 31 or 25, and All-Star is an AllStar.”