Zoran Dragić reinforced Cedevita Olimpija

Cedevita Olimpija got stronger by adding Zoran Dragić to its roster, one of the key players of the Slovenia National Team and a player that has experience from playing in the NBA, EuroLeague , 7DAYS EuroCup and the ABA League from his younger days. The player of Ljubljana, the younger brother of one of the best players that Slovenia has ever had and former member of the Dragons, Goran Dragić, is coming to Cedevita Olimpija from Žalgiris, with which he parted ways at the end of the 2021. Dragić will remain in Stožice at least until the end of the 2021/22 season.

Dragić has had a rich career so far, having played for Ilirija, Janče, Slovan, Krka, Malaga, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Khimki, Olimpia Milan, Anadolu Efes, Triest, ratioharm Ulm, Baskonia and Žalgiris in the end.

This season Dragić appeared in nine EuroLeague games, averaging 3.9 points per game. Altogether, he has scored 1194 points in the EuroLeague and that has been enough for the average of 7.9 per game.

Zoran has been a regular member of Slovenia National Team, for which he has made a debut at the EuroBasket 2011. He has also appeared in EuroBasket 2015 and World Cup 2016. This summer he has been playing at the Olympic Games for Slovenia and reached the Semi-finals with the national team. He has been averaging 12.3 points , 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game at the event.

 As the two sides have agreed on cooperation, head coach Jurica Golemac told: “We are truly happy and delighted that Zoran Dragić has decided to return home and that we have another Slovenia National Team player in Cedevita Olimpija, since this is very important for Slovenian basketball. Zoran is a player, that knows the majority of the teammates and knows that Cedevita Olimpija means. We are happy that such an experienced and high-quality player is coming to our suqad. We believe that he will lift our defensive and offensive game to a higher level. We cannot wait for Zoran to start practicing with us, to get to know his teammates and to step on court in our jersey and help us reach the goals, ahead of us.”

“I am delighted to have joined Cedevita Olimpija. We know that it’s a great team and I believe that I can help it with my experience and playing abilities. My goal is for us to get to the eight best teams in the 7DAYS EuroCup and Top 4 in the AdmiralBet ABA League. If I’m completely honest, my ambitions are great and I wish that we could win everything that can be won and I will give my best every time I am on the court. Plying in front of home fans brings a special feeling and I am glad for it. I certainly won’t lack the motivation, but I will need to do what I am saying and so I cannot wait for everything to start,” Dragić added.

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Zoran Dragić okrepil Cedevita Olimpijo

Na položaju krila se je članska ekipa Cedevite Olimpije pred nadaljevanjem sezone okrepila z enim izmed nosilcev slovenske moške članske reprezentance, Zoranom Dragićem. Slednji bo v ljubljanskem klubu ostal vsaj do zaključka tekmovalne sezone 2021/22.

Ljubljanska Cedevita Olimpija se je okrepila z Zoranom Dragićem, enim izmed nosilcev slovenske moške članske reprezentance, in igralcem, ki ima izkušnje z igranjem v elitni Evroligi, severnoameriški Ligi NBA, 7DAYS EuroCupu in regionalni ligi. Ljubljančan, mlajši brat enega od najboljših slovenskih košarkarjev vseh časov in nekdanjega igralca Zmajev, Gorana Dragića, je nazadnje nosil dres litovskega Žalgirisa, s katerim se je razšel na zadnji dan minulega koledarskega leta. Dragić bo v Stožicah ostal vsaj do konca te tekmovalne sezone.

Za slovenskim košarkarjem je pestra kariera, v njej pa je igral tudi za Ilirijo, Janče, Slovan, Krko, Malago, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Himki, Olimpio Milano, Anadolu Efes, Trst, ratiopharm Ulm, Baskonio in nazadnje za Žalgiris.

V tej sezoni je za Žalgiris v Evroligi zaigral na devetih tekmah in v povprečju beležil 3,9 točke. Skupno je Dragić v Evroligi dosegel kar 1194 točk, to pa je dovolj za povprečje 7,9 točke na tekmo.

Zoran je bil vseskozi tudi del slovenskih reprezentanc mlajših starostnih kategorij, leta 2011 pa je na EuroBasketu 2011 prvič oblekel dres članske reprezentance na velikem tekmovanju. Sledil je domači EuroBasket 2013, naslednje leto pa nato še svetovno prvenstvo. Leto kasneje je bil Dragić tudi del reprezentance, ki je nastopila na EuroBasketu 2015, sodeloval pa je tudi v kvalifikacijah za EuroBasket 2017, na katerem zaradi poškodbe kasneje žal ni nastopil.

S slovensko reprezentanco je Dragić minulo poletje premierno zaigral tudi na olimpijskih igrah v Tokiu, v povprečju pa je beležil 12,3 točke, 3,8 skoke in 1,8 asistence. 

Ob dogovoru o sodelovanju z Dragićem je trener Jurica Golemac povedal: „Zelo veseli, presrečni, smo, da se je Zoran Dragić odločil, da se vrne domov, in da imamo v Cedeviti Olimpiji še enega slovenskega reprezentanta, saj je to zelo pomembno za slovensko košarko. Zoran je igralec, ki pozna večino svojih novih soigralcev in se ve, kaj pomeni Cedevita Olimpija. Srečni smo, da k nam prihaja tako izkušen in kakovosten košarkar. Prepričani smo, da bo našo igro v obrambi in napadu dvignil na višjo raven. Komaj čakamo, da Zoran začne z nami trenirati, se spozna z novimi soigralci ter da prvič stopi na parket v našem dresu in nam pomaga na poti do zastavljenih ciljev.“

„Vesel sem, da sem se pridružil Cedeviti Olimpiji. Vemo, da gre za odlično ekipo in verjamem, da ji bom lahko pomagal s svojimi izkušnjami in znanjem. Moj cilj je, da se prebijemo med najboljših osem moštev v 7DAYS EuroCupu in najboljše štiri ekipe v AdmiralBet ABA ligi, če pa sem povsem iskren, so moje ambicije velike in želim, da osvojimo vse, kar se da osvojiti, in kot zmeraj bom dal na parketu vedno vse od sebe. Igranje pred domačimi navijači vedno s seboj prinese poseben občutek in tega se neizmerno veselim. Motivacije zagotovo ne bo manjkalo, bo pa potrebno besede prenesti na delo, in zato komaj čakam, da se vse skupaj začne,“ pa je dodal Zoran.