Age: 24

Hometown: Ljubljana, Slovenia

Birthday: May 6, 1986

Height: 6-3

Weight: 190

Position: PG

Experience: 2 years

Draft: 2008, 45th overall by San Antonio

College: None

2010-11 Salary: $1,836,000

Consult our advanced stats page for a glossary and discussion of the preceding metrics.

2010-11 Season Outlook: One year removed from a timid and confidence-lacking rookie campaign, Goran Dragic burst onto the NBA scene last season. He shook the nerves, was a spark off the bench for the Suns and rode the confidence of head coach Alvin Gentry into the playoffs where he rose to the occasion scoring 23 fourth-quarter points against the Spurs and coming up big time late in games against the Lakers in the conference finals.

Why shouldn’t we expect the same Dragic that turned it on in the postseason to show up during the 2010-11 season? Dragic should be around 20 or 25 minutes per game this season, especially with Leandro Barbosa in Toronto.  I would expect Goran’s numbers to increase this season, not only because he’s still improving, but due to the ridiculous depth of this Phoenix team. Dragic will lead Josh Childress, Jared Dudley, Hakim Warrick and Channing Frye — a group that could challenge some starting squads in the league.

He’s confident, he’ll have playing time, and he has the supporting cast to thrive. This could very well be the year Dragic solidifies himself as a bona fide scorer and point guard. He is excited about the opportunity to take over for Steve Nash some day and told this to ValleyoftheSuns on exit interview day when asked about the subject: “I hope so, I hope so. That’s my goal. To take over for Steve is something special.”

Biography: Goran Dragic was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and it didn’t take long for him to immerse himself into the basketball world, as he entered professional basketball in 2003 at age 17. He played with the Slovenian 2D League club Ilirija Ljubljana for one year before transferring to Slovenian Premier A League and Adriatic League club KD Slovan in 2004. After a pit stop with the Spanish ACB Club Dragic finally landed in the Slovenian league with Euroleague Club Olimpija Ljubljana in 2007, where he won the Slovenian League Championship.

Dragic was then drafted 45th overall in 2008 by the San Antonio Spurs before they traded his rights to the Suns. Phoenix was finally able to reach a buyout on September 22, 2008 to bring Dragic to the Suns for his rookie year. Then-GM Steve Kerr declared Dragic the second-best point guard in the draft, but the timid lefty never lived up to expectations, suffering through style changes and a lack of confidence with Terry Porter as head coach.

Once Alvin Gentry took over Dragic began showing flashes of greatness, which became an everyday routine in his second season, as he averaged 7.9 points per game and exploded in the playoffs. Dragic always dreamed of playing in the NBA and would stay up in the wee hours of the morning to watch stars like Michael Jordan play. Dragic is fluent in four languages and also has a younger brother named Zoran who he will play with in the World Championships and who’s expected to enter the 2011 NBA Draft.

Links to ValleyoftheSuns coverage of Dragic:

Goran Dragic relishes time spent with Suns after return to Phoenix

The Phoenix Suns gave up on Goran Dragic too soon

Goran Dragic looks to take next step in Year 3

The Slovenian rivalry between Goran Dragic and Sasha Vujacic

Goran Dragic becomes The Dragon in the fourth as Phoenix Suns erase 18-point deficit to take Game 3

Goran Dragic from a Slovenian’s perspective