As EuroBasket 2022 continues overseas, so does the dominance of Slovenia.
Despite the reigning champions having their 11-game win streak snapped during group play by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia has looked prime for another championship run. Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic and newly-signed Bull Goran Dragic have made their home country look elite, especially on Wednesday when they battled another powerhouse.
Led by three-time DPOY Rudy Gobert and sharpshooter Evan Fournier, Slovenia and France fought for the top spot in Group B. A closely contested game from the start, a historic performance from Doncic proved too much for Gobert and Co. to overcome. Doncic’s 47 points (27 of which came in the first half) finished as the second-highest scoring tally in EuroBasket history. He also had 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and one absolutely absurd shot.
You have to see it to believe it:
If it weren’t for the steady hand of Dragic, however, Slovenia may not have come out on top. The reigning EuroBasket MVP scored 14 points with 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. The new Chicago Bull has already given us his fair share of highlights during this tournament play but none should be considered more important than what he did at the end of this one.
Locked at 82-82 with 1:20 left on the clock, Dragic poked the ball away after some great one-on-one defense and broke free for the go-ahead layup. Then, after his brother Zoran forced his own steal a couple of possesions later, Goran added two more crucial points to the board.
Goran and Zoran ended up being quite the vital brotherly duo, as Slovenia outscored France an amazing 71-54 when the two shared the court, per the AP’s Tim Reynolds. So … is Arturas Karnisovas in the market for even more guards?
Goran’s success overseas is undoubtedly a positive in the thick of several negatives for the Chicago Bulls this summer. While we still must proceed with caution in terms of how significant Dragic’s impact can be this upcoming season, there is no question he’s shown that plenty of good basketball is left in the tank. And for a Bulls team that looks like they’ll start the season without their starting point guard, I’d consider that semi-reassuring news.
Bring home that trophy, Goran!