With Slovenia playing its third pre-World Cup tune-up game in just three days, Goran Dragic and his coaching staff decided a night off was in order.
Instead the Suns’ star guard watched as his teammates fell in a hard-fought, 80-76 loss to long-time contender Lithuania. Slovenia was led by Miha Zupan (19 points, 7-10 FG) and Klemen Prepelic (17 points, four rebounds, four steals, three assists).
Dragic did lace up his basketball shoes at one point during the day, however. He visited the local sports university in Kaunas, Lithuania, to run drills and give instruction to the students.
“If you’re passionate, you have a desire for constant improvement, if you are doing well in every workout and if you listen to your trainer’s instructions, you can play against anyone,” he said.
That statement is backed up by Dragic’s well-chronicled path from doubted second-round pick to being named the 2013-14 NBA Most Improved Player.
Of course, even Dragic isn’t immune to losing a game of bump-out to kids roughly half his age.