‘I’ve always been an admirer’: Billy Donovan on Goran Dragic

The 15-year veteran brings experience and leadership to Chicago’s backcourt.

Heading into the 2022-23 season, the Chicago Bulls bring back 12 players from last year’s roster, as their core unit returns for another run at it.

Outside of resigning Zach LaVine to a max extension, the Bulls signed veterans Andre Drummond and Goran Dragic.

For Dragic, he brings a veteran presence in a deep backcourt, who can play both guard positions, whether that be as a starter in Lonzo Ball’s absence, or coming off the bench.

Bulls leadership spoke about adding the 15-year veteran to their group on media day.

“I’ve always been an admirer of Goran,” Billy Donovan said. “I think a guy that’s hungry to win but also a guy that will do whatever he needs to do to impact the group, whether that’s through leadership or the way he plays.”

Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas added to Donovan’s feelings towards Dragic, speaking to his hunger and leadership.

“With Goran, it was more in terms of adding experience, the guy that is still hungry and chasing winning. Leadership is what’s behind adding Goran,” Karnisovas said.

Dragic joins a crowded group of lead guards alongside Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, and Coby White with Lonzo Ball out. Either Dosunmu or Caruso will likely get the nod to start in Ball’s place but Dragic will certainly play a role in his new uniform.

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WATCH: Goran Dragic throws inbound pass off defender’s back vs. Poland

The veteran guard made a crafty play that Poland didn’t see coming.

To play point guard, having a high basketball IQ is certainly an important skillset.

For Bulls guard Goran Dragic, the IQ and veteran savviness is an asset.

In Slovenia’s loss to Poland on Wednesday in the EuroBasket quarter-finals, Dragic made a crafty play that caught the eye of NBA Twitter.

When making an inbounds pass halfway through the first quarter, Dragic caught Poland’s defense slacking, tossing the ball off the defender’s back to easily lay the ball in for two points.

Check out the heads up play by Dragic below.

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Goran Dragic, Slovenia falls to Poland in quarter-finals of EuroBasket

Slovenia’s efforts to repeat as EuroBasket champions falls short.

Bulls veteran guard Goran Dragic and the Slovenian National team were looking to repeat as EuroBasket champions this summer, yet Poland had other their own plans.

On Wednesday, Poland upset the defending champions 90-87 to move onto the semi-finals and a date with France.

Slovenia fell behind by double-digits in the first-half due to sloppy turnovers and an onslaught of energy and shooting from the Polish.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic fouled out with just over three minutes remaining, leaving the keys to the car in Dragic’s hands. Slovenia cut into Poland’s lead and had a chance at a game-tying three with just two seconds remaining but missed.

Dragic finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists on 7-of-15 shooting from the field and 6-of-11 from 3-point range.

This likely marks the final EuroBasket appearance for the 36-year-old Slovenian legend.

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Bulls’ Goran Dragic defends Giannis Antetokounmpo from Gilbert Arenas’ slander

Chicago Bulls free-agent addition Goran Dragic defended Giannis Antetokounmpo from Gilbert Arenas’ recent criticism.

Chicago Bulls free-agent signee Goran Dragic had much to say after Slovenia qualified for the EuroBasket quarterfinals on Saturday.

But, it was on something that happened far away from Germany, where Slovenia beat Belgium by 16 points.

Dragic was asked about former NBA star turned shock-value personality Gilbert Arenas going on a tangent recently bashing Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s game during an episode of the “No Chill” podcast.

This was his response:

“Giannis (Antetokounmpo) is the MVP. Gilbert Arenas is not. Was he ever the MVP? I don’t think so. So he can’t talk about Giannis. Giannis won the championship, won the MVP award. He has been the Defensive Player of the Year.”

 

Arenas said this about Antetokounmpo:

“The media says he’s the best player in the league. Not even close, just stop it. I can look at his game and say he doesn’t understand basketball yet

“He plays the sport, he won a championship, cool. But he doesn’t really understand how to be better, how to train his body.”

Arenas’ endless pursuit of shock value for the sake of being funny or outrageous over the years has made him something of a bad influence at worst and simply a person not worth taking seriously at best. What he’s saying is obviously ridiculous, even if there are reasonable qualms about the way he plays.

As for Dragic, his focus after EuroBasket will be looking to help the Bulls have success in the 2022-23 season.

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Goran Dragic scores 19 points in Slovenia’s 21-point win over Estonia

The Bulls’ veteran continues to play well for Slovenia leading up to EuroBasket.

With NBA training camp and EuroBasket right around the corner, Goran Dragic is looking to be in game ready shape.

On Thursday, Dragic and Slovenia defeated Estonia in European Qualifiers, 104-83. The Bulls’ guard finished with 19 points and 6 assists on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor and 3-of-4 from 3-point range on a game-high +25 plus/minus.

Dragic has played well this summer for Slovenia, including scoring 28 points and hitting the game-winning shot in an overtime victory over Turkey last Sunday.

Slovenia’s next contest will be on Sunday against Germany.

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Bulls’ Dragic scores 28, hits OT game-winner for Slovenia vs. Turkey

Dragic closed the game out in overtime for Slovenia in friendly match vs. Turkey.

Goran Dragic is getting into game shape prior to Bulls training camp.

On Saturday, Dragic played for the Slovenian National Team in a friendly match against Turkey, as Slovenia got the 104-103 overtime victory.

Dragic led the way for Slovenia, finishing with 28 points and 5 rebounds, including hitting the game-winning stepback 3-pointer in overtime.

Dragic and Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic combined for 51 points in the victory for Slovenia in Saturday’s friendly.

Last week, Dragic announced that he’d be playing in September’s EuroBasket, in attempt to bring back the trophy as Slovenia did in 2017.

Check out the full highlights from Saturday’s friendly below.

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Goran Dragic to play for Slovenia in EuroBasket

Dragic, Slovenia look to reclaim the EuroBasket trophy after winning in 2017.

The heart and soul for Slovenia is back.

Bulls guard Goran Dragic posted on Twitter on Friday that he would indeed be representing his country of Slovenia in the upcoming EuroBasket this fall.

The 14-year NBA veteran along with Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic will look to lead Slovenia to another EuroBasket title.

Dragic and Slovenia won the FIBA EuroBasket in 2017, defeating Serbia in the championship game.

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Bulls, Goran Dragic finalize one-year, $2.9M deal

The 14-year veteran will add backcourt depth for the Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls have officially signed one of their free agency targets.

On Tuesday, the Bulls and veteran guard Goran Dragic officially finalized a one-year, $2.9 million deal.

Dragic, who started last season with the Toronto Raptors but landed in Brooklyn after a buyout, adds another veteran presence to Chicago’s backcourt alongside the youth of Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, and Coby White.

In 21 games last season, Dragic averaged 7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

Dragic will wear No. 7 with the Bulls, previously notably worn by Toni Kukoc and Ben Gordon.

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Report: Bulls to sign veteran guard Goran Dragic

The 15-year veteran joins the Bulls on a one-year deal.

The Chicago Bulls have added another veteran presence to their locker room.

First reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania on Sunday, Goran Dragic has agreed to a one year deal with the Bulls.

Dragic’s deal is worth $2.9 million.

Last season, Dragic started the year with the Toronto Raptors before being bought out and joining the Brooklyn Nets. In 16 regular season games with the Nets, Dragic averaged 7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.

Dragic will provide the Bulls with a veteran voice in the backcourt and insurance depending on Lonzo Ball’s ongoing knee issue.

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Key reserve Goran Dragic leaves Nets in free agency to join Bulls

Key reserve guard Goran Dragic will leave the Brooklyn Nets to join the Chicago Bulls in free agency.

The Brooklyn Nets are certainly in disarray at the moment as they are dealing with the drama surrounding their star duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and they are now losing some other key pieces of the team.

Andre Drummond, who was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in the James Harden deal, left the team in free agency to join the Chicago Bulls. Now, a key reserve guard is also joining the Bulls.

Goran Dragic, who was picked up mid-season, will also join Chicago on a 1-year $2.9 million deal. He played in 16 games for Brooklyn, with six starts, and he averaged 7.3 points and 4.8 assists. In the playoffs, he averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.

The Nets will have to continue to decide how they are going to handle things on the player front moving forward as they look to try and keep Durant in tow. Losing Dragic hurts the bench unit, but his production can be made up for in other ways.

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