By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – In one of the most eventful and entertaining friendly encounters organized in European basketball, Goran Dragic had his last 40 minutes of fun in Ljubljana, officially retiring from the game.
Alongside him, a company full of stars was present in the Stozice Arena for the “I Feel Slovenia Night of the Dragon”, organized to celebrate the legacy of the Slovenian icon. Just to name a few: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Luis Scola, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Bogdan Bogdanovic. And a lot more.
This occasion marked the first time Chris Bosh was actually coming back to the court after retiring from basketball in 2016. If that wasn’t enough, Steve Nash also played basketball for the first time in years, returning to the court at 50. Like the two-time MVP, Boki Nachbar and Sani Biberovic did the same.
Chris Bosh and Goran Dragic are back together 🫂
The Miami Heat duo is reunited alongside Luka Doncic, Luis Scola, Dirk Nowitzki, and more superstars to celebrate the career of the Dragon in Ljubljana. pic.twitter.com/mTwEI6Xded
— Cesare Milanti (@cesaremilanti) August 24, 2024
The game itself was full of iconic moments since the first quarter when Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic early entertained themselves; the Joker also displayed a self-backboard dunk… only to ask his head coach Igor Kokoskov to be replaced immediately afterward.
Luka Doncic’s team started with a stacked five composed of the Dallas Mavericks‘ phenomenon, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Jokic, Luis Scola, and Robin Lopez; after being received as a national hero, Goran Dragic answered with Steve Nash, Klemen Prepelic, Vlatko Cancar, and Nikola Vucevic.
During the night there were tons of fun moments, such as the 1vs1 clash between the Dragic brothers with their parents as referee and scoreboard keeper. Emotional moments were included too, as the whole capital of Ljubljana had the former Slovenian national team’s captain under its wings.
SELF ASSIST AND DUNK BY JOKIC
(He asked to be subbed after that) 🤣pic.twitter.com/4KFM5Y1Rgf— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 24, 2024
As per the game itself, Goran Dragic’s team found a way to turn things around after trailing for the vast majority of the friendly against Luka Doncic and his selected teammates. Contributing to his team’s 106-86 victory, the protagonists of this eventful show finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Alongside him, his former Slovenian national team’s shooting partner Klemen Prepelic helped with 19 points and 7 assists; Nikola Vucevic, instead concluded by almost getting a double-double with 10 points and 8 rebounds. On their long-awaited return, Steve Nash and Chris Bosh each had 2 points.
Boban Marjanovic entertained the crowd – even received MVP chants from the audience in Stozice Arena – and also led both sides in scoring with 19 points, including a surprising 3/5 from beyond the arc. Nikola Jokic had 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, while captain Luka ended with 7 points and 5 dimes.
Nostalgia is hitting hard 🥹
(📷: @FoundationGD) #TheNightofTheDragon pic.twitter.com/LfMmLSvNeU
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 24, 2024
The full Night of the Dragon rosters
Luka Doncic captained the team composed of Bogdan Bogdanovic, Luis Scola, Nikola Jokic, Dejan Bodiroga, Dirk Nowitzki, Robin Lopez, Aleksej Nikolic, Matic Rebec, Beno Udrih, Jaka Blazic, Edo Muric, Bostjan Nachbar, Uros Slokar, Sasa Zagorac, Miha Zupan, Boban Marjanovic, Gasper Vidmar, Miroslav Beric, and finally his former Dallas Mavericks teammate Josh Richardson.
On the day of his ultimate basketball game, captain Goran Dragic was joined by Steve Nash, Predrag “Sasha” Danilovic, Chris Bosh, Vlatko Cancar, Vladimir Radmanovic, Nikola Vucevic, Sani Becirovic, Aleksandar Capin, Nebojsa Joksimovic, Jaka Lakovic, Domen Lorbek, Klemen Prepelic, Zoran Dragic, Sasa Pavlovic, Matjaz Smodis, Ziga Dimec, Primoz Brezec, Raso Nesterovic, and Erazem Lorbek.
Will we see tomorrow Dirk Nowitzki, Dejan Bodiroga, Steve Nash, Bosh, Danilovic, Nesterovic and Scola on the court? #Nightofthedragon will be interesting pic.twitter.com/c6CUXk3Wpy
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 23, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: Goran Dragić Foundation