Former Miami Heat star Goran Dragić retiring after 15-year NBA career, per reports

Legendary Slovenian player Goran Dragić announced his retirement from the NBA, but fans were disappointed that he would not be signing a one-day contract to complete his career as a Miami Heat player.

The 39-year-old is reportedly scheduled to play a farewell game in August in Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana.

Dragić’s seven seasons with the Heat from 2014 to 2021 are his most well-known accomplishments; the 2019–20 season saw them make it all the way to the NBA Finals. During the playoffs that year, he averaged 19.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. During his tenure in Miami, he averaged 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists across 391 games.

A recipient of numerous honors throughout his NBA career, including Most Improved Player in 2014 and All-Star selection in 2018, Dragić has played for the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, and Toronto Raptors.

Dragić most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls in 2022–2023; in 58 games off the bench, he averaged 2.6 assists, 1.4 rebounds, and 6.3 points. He made 42.1 percent of his field goals and 35.9 percent of his three-pointers.

Dragić played basketball in his home nation for four seasons prior to beginning his NBA career. In the years he played in Slovenia, he was nominated for an All-Star team and won Rookie of the Year. The San Antonio Spurs selected him in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. Spurs transactions

Throughout his career, he made 90 official appearances for Slovenia’s national team, scoring 1,095 points in official games and 1,760 points overall. In 2017, he enhanced his reputation by leading the gold-medal winning EuroBasket squad. That year, he also won tournament MVP.

A two-day charity event will take place in conjunction with his farewell game in Slovenia. The Slovenian sports website SiOL.net broke the story first, stating that the humanitarian endeavor will be in collaboration with the Goran Dragić Foundation and the Spontanzo firm. It is believed that Dragić will provide information on the event at a press conference in Ljubljana on Thursday of next week. It is anticipated that Ljubljana’s mayor, Zoran Janković, will also make a speech.

Given that the retirement exhibition is taking place in the NBA summer, many of Dragić’s previous Peers, like fellow Slovenian Luka Dončić, will probably be able to make it.