Luka Doncic Receives Support from Fellow Countryman Goran Dragic: "I Believe He Will Be MVP Because He Is a Great Player"

In a long and extensive interview with HoopsHype, Goran Dragic has reviewed his career, talked about Miami Heat, his farewell game, and his arrival in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns and Steve Nash as his mentor. He also mentioned who the best players in the world were back then, giving a special mention to Kobe Bryant, and wished all the luck to his compatriot Luka Doncic.

Life after basketball

"It's been great. I have a lot more free time. I've focused more on my children. I have a boy and a girl, Mateo and Victoria, who are ten and nineteen years old. I'm making up for lost time because now I can be a full-time dad. I can take them to practices, to school, stay at home; I really like it. I also want to stay involved in basketball. I'm exploring opportunities and looking for what my path will be. That's why I'm here (in Mexico City). I love basketball. I enjoy staying connected, making appearances with kids, meeting new people all over the world, and I'm happy."

Favorite memory in Miami

"During my seven years there, amidst the challenges and playing in the NBA Finals, those were the best seven years of my career. I love that team, I love everyone working there. I still live in Miami, so overall, it felt like home. I think it's really important to have those feelings and to connect with those people; now I can say they are my friends, and of course, I support them."

Difference with other teams

"Yes, definitely. Miami is very special, their approach is different. They really challenge you to give your best. They do many things to make you strive and be in the best shape of your life, to compete at the highest level. Sometimes, they are very strict. Some players like that, others don't. In my case, I liked it because there was more structure, and that's why I think they are so successful. Over the years, even if they don't have the best team, they will always compete and play hard."

Miami and European basketball

"Yes, you're right. It felt familiar like in Europe. For example, in Europe when we travel, we all wear the same uniform, or jackets, sweatshirts, whatever. In Miami, it's the same, when you travel, everyone goes as a team, as a unit, and that's really important. Also how the coaching staff handles things; they want us to have dinner together as much as possible. They try to create that team environment where everyone understands each other and knows who each one is. I think that's really important for team chemistry, and it gave me a bit of that feeling like in Europe, especially with national teams and clubs."

Farewell game

"It was a great honor. I consider those players friends because they truly are. I spent most of my career with them, and they were a big part of my life. We spent a lot of time together, traveled, fought together on the court, shared good moments, dinners; those are the guys I consider friends. If they need help in the future, I'll be there for them. It was really important for me to celebrate that day, not for myself, but for the kids, because we were raising money and doing something good. I was very happy, legends came to support this project of mine, also the NBA. Luka was there, Jokic, Steve Nash, Chris Bosh, so many significant names in this sport. I was content and want to thank them again for supporting this project."

Second Draft round

"I always believed in myself. Even when I played in Europe and made it to the NBA. I won't lie, there were tough moments, especially in the beginning. I didn't play much, I had to fight through that adversity, and most importantly, it was my family. My family, my coaches, my mentors like Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and those guys. They showed me a path to follow, and I saw how hard they worked, so I did the same. Then came the change, I spent three years in Phoenix, and then I was traded to Houston, and that was another moment when I doubted myself, but everyone has doubts. The important thing is how you deal with that, and for me, it was going to practice every day, getting better, and seeing what happened."

Sharing locker room with Steve Nash

"The most important thing was how to be a professional and see how to play, how to read the court. Playing pick-and-roll, especially because players are faster. The game is very different from Europe, so I had to adapt. He was always there, teaching me the angles, how to play the pick-and-roll, how to pass the ball, especially in those tight spaces. He and Amare Stoudemire were the best at that. He was there working with me, I was learning, and that helped my career immensely."

His career

"I'm very happy with my career. Fifteen years in the league. As a kid, you always dream of making it to the NBA, but I never thought I would play fifteen years. I was very fortunate to be able to do that. Of course, I always dreamed of an NBA ring. I was in the Finals, but never achieved that goal. But in life, there are tough and good moments. Looking back, I had a great career. I played many playoff games, was on an All-NBA team, was an All-Star, so as a kid, I'd sign that immediately [laughs]. As a kid, I just wanted to make it to the league, and in the end, I think I exceeded expectations."

Best player in the world of his generation

"Definitely Kobe Bryant. In the 2010 Western Conference Finals, Phoenix against Lakers, I saw that Mamba mentality. It was incredible. We put three or four defenders on him, and he would smile and shoot over us, scoring. He had a good team, with Pau Gasol, Bynum, Farmar, Odom, all these players, but when the game was on the line, we all knew who the ball would go to, and we couldn't stop him. So for me, Kobe Bryant was the best at that time. And there was also D-Wade, LeBron James, many players. Kobe was the best closer, and so was D-Wade. When I played with D-Wade, I saw so many games where he would take the ball and lead us to victory. It was incredible."

Titles for Luka Doncic

"I really don't know. It all depends on the team's front office, on how they surround him with players. Last year they did very well. I think nobody expected them to play in the Finals. The chemistry between him and Kyrie [Irving] was incredible, and everyone followed suit. I think with Klay Thompson, they will have much more offensive power, but at the end of the day, can they play defense? So you never know, especially now in the NBA, there are many good teams. There's OKC, Minnesota, Phoenix, the Lakers with LeBron, Denver with Nikola Jokic, Dallas, then you have Boston, Miami, Milwaukee, who disappointed last year, but we'll see. I think Luka will be MVP because he's a great player. He's putting up impressive numbers, but it all depends on how he's surrounded with a team. I think they have a chance, but we'll see. I definitely wish he wins one, because he's a good friend of mine and comes from Slovenia. We've had five Slovenian winners, and I hope he'll be the next."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Luka Doncic recibe el apoyo de su compatriota Goran Dragic: "Creo que será MVP porque es un gran jugador"