Goran Dragic: Top 10 Moments With The Phoenix Suns
1. The Dragon Soars To A New Career High
Dragic’s performance against the Spurs in the 2010 NBA Playoffs was the moment we realized he might be good one day. But his 2013-14 season, capped off by a career-high 40 points against the New Orleans Pelicans, was the defining moment of his career thus far, and that’s why it gets the edge at No. 1.
In the middle of Gogi’s best season, the Suns needed wins to stay in the playoff picture. Anthony Davis came to play for the Pellies, finishing with 32 points and nine boards. But on that night, he was only the second best player on the court.
Finishing with 40 points on 14-of-21 shooting (not to mention five assists), the Dragon was breathing so much fire Anthony Davis’ brow was in danger of being singed in half. At one point in the game, Dragic drained a three and flung his arms up in the air as if to say “Are you not entertained??”
It wasn’t quite as good as the big balls dance, but it was close. In that game, Dragic set a new career high for himself for the second time in a week. It was also his third new career high in a month, pairing him with Rod Strickland as the only players in NBA history to ever accomplish that feat.
As someone who was in the arena for that game, there haven’t been many nights in US Airways Center quite as exhilarating as that moment. When the crowd started chanting “MVP! MVP! MVP” it didn’t feel silly or misplaced either.
People have forgotten with Dragic taking on a different role this year, but he was a top-five point guard last season. The MVP award was never going to anyone other than Kevin Durant or LeBron James, but Dragic might have been a top five candidate there too. That’s how good his season was, and we knew it the moment he dropped 40 on the league’s next rising star.
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