LJUBLJANA (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Slovenia standout Goran Dragic has announced he will be retiring from international play after FIBA EuroBasket 2017 in a letter addressed to the supporters of the national team.

In a heartfelt message published on social media after a 74-73 victory over Croatia in front of a packed Stozice Arena in Ljubljana, the 31-year-old guard revealed it was his last game on home soil and the upcoming campaign will be his last major tournament.

"When I walked into Stozice on Thursday and saw the packed arena, I realized that I will be playing my last home game in front of the most beloved people in the world – my eyes started to water and my legs became heavy," Dragic wrote.

"At that moment, I remembered how proud I was to receive my first youth national team call-up, all the feelings with a gold medal around my neck at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2004 in Brno. I remembered becoming a member of the national team under coach Ales Pipan, not being able to participate in the battle for medals in EuroBasket 2009 and the privilege of playing in the historic EuroBasket 2013 at home. I still cannot believe how fast everything went. As they say, the most beautiful things are the fastest to pass, but this will forever stay in my heart."

During his time with the national team, Dragic has participated in three FIBA Basketball World Cups and the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket campaign will already be his fifth one, with the fourth-place finish at FIBA EuroBasket 2009 still standing as the best result ever for Slovenia.

"Now, there is another European competition ahead of us, where I will, as will the rest of the team, give everything to make you and us happy and bring home the desired medal," he promised the fans before setting out to Helsinki.

Slovenia will play in Group A alongside France, Greece, Iceland, Poland and the Group Phase hosts Finland.

FIBA