Next Saturday, former NBA stars Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Chris Bosh are coming out of retirement. Well, at least for a night.
The trio is among the players who’ll be on the court for Goran Dragic’s farewell game in Slovenia. Joining them will be a wide array of international talent, with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic as headliners.
Former NBA head coaches Alvin Gentry and Kevin McHale will return to the sidelines. Alongside them will be Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn, Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Igor Kokoskov, and Serbian Olympic Committee president Boxidar Maljkovic, among others.
Dubbed “Night of the Dragon” in honor of his family name and nickname, this unique event is sure to be remembered forever.
Several Retired NBA All-Stars To Suit Up For Special Event
What a career. It’s been an honor, brate! We love you @Goran_Dragic! 🐉 pic.twitter.com/ip6IPIHD6Z
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 31, 2023
Dragic officially retired from the NBA on Dec. 31, 2023 after a 15-year career. He spent the bulk of that time with the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat, where he played six and seven seasons, respectively. Named the Most Improved Player of the Year and All-NBA selection in 2013-14, the former second-round pick earned his sole All-Star selection in 2017-18.
Dragic finished his career with averages of 13.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 0.9 per game. However, despite those relatively modest numbers, he has the third-most assists (2,034) in Heat history. He also has the seventh-most 3-pointers (588) and ninth-most points (6,348) in Heat history.
Teaming Up With Familiar Faces
Speaking of the Heat, one of the most special aspects of Bosh returning to the court next Saturday is his shared history with Dragic. After LeBron James left the Heat in 2014, Bosh’s decision to stay in South Beach helped them remain competitive. It was in that time that Bosh and Dragic teamed up, Miami trading for the lefty in Feb. 2015.
Unfortunately, their tenure as teammates was brief. Bosh and Dragic went 26-18 in the games they played together. However, the Dallas native’s career was upended by a blood-clotting condition. He was forced to retire in 2019 despite a sincere desire to continue playing. Bosh’s last game was on Feb. 9, 2016.
Dragic was also teammates with Doncic. Not in the NBA, as Dragic turned down a contract offer from the Mavs in 2022.
Goran Dragic: “We were in talks with Dallas. They made an offer but I decided not to take it. They wanted me to play 1 game and then sit for the next 5. I know I can still easily play 20 minutes per game. I’m not ready to retire and just sit on the bench in a cheerleading role.” https://t.co/0W6yW1U6kG
— Matej Sportinfo (@MatejSportinfo) July 13, 2022
Nonetheless, the duo starred for the Slovenian national team in the 2017 and 2022 European Basketball Championships. Behind them, Slovenia was able to capture their first-ever EuroBasket title in 2017.
Then there’s Nash who, like Bosh, is already a Hall of Famer.
Nash was already 34 years old when Dragic was drafted, so Dragic was the two-time MVP’s understudy during their time the Suns. And, as of the greatest point guards of all-time, his tutelage was invaluable. From work habits, to eating habits, to running the pick-and-roll, Nash’s mentorship had a significant influence on the player that Dragic eventually became.
