By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – Goran Dragić said goodbye to his basketball career in a unique and spectacular game featuring some of the sport’s biggest stars.
Many of his friends and colleagues included Robin Lopez, who played with Dragić at the beginning of his NBA career.
“Such a special night, one of my favorite basketball memories ever. To see Gogi and his family out there, Gogi on the bench again with Steve, it’s hard to put into words,” Lopez said about Dragić’s farewell game in Ljubljana.
He plans to return to Slovenia one day to continue exploring.
“Very welcoming for me; I’ve been to the city center a couple of times. I hoped to explore it more, but everyone was so hospitable. I gotta come back for a longer time, with Goran’s family showing me around.”
Talking about Goran, he explained what Dragić meant to him throughout his career.
“We were rookies together, and he was somebody I could look to because he had been a professional before in Europe. Gogi was somebody I could always look up to and model myself after.”
Would the twin brother of Brook Lopez consider playing in Europe?
“I’d absolutely consider it; I know how passionate the fans are and how high the level of basketball is.”
While playing last season for the Milwaukee Bucks alongside his brother Brook, as well as Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, he followed the EuroLeague a bit.
“A little bit. Thanasis and Giannis had me watching their little brother.”
Robin has spent the last 16 years in the NBA. Seeing the event, Goran Dragić prepared to end his career; he realizes his time will come.
“If it happens, it happens. I’ve had a great career so far, not as good as Goran’s, but I’m thankful for everything I’ve been given,” Robin Lopez concluded.