LJUBLJANA - Basketball federations and national teams are often judged by wins and losses.

When it comes to Slovenia, their success can also be measured in a different and perhaps more important way.

The national federation and its players, including Goran Dragic, can be applauded for rallying behind Urban Gorjanc and helping the 2.13m center after he was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome.

Doctors discovered in 2012 that Gorjanc had the genetic tissue disorder, which prevented him from taking part in the U20 European Championship that year.

Thanks to fundraising efforts by the basketball federation, and Dragic, Gorjanc was able to have an operation in July in Seoul, Korea, that was deemed a success.

Given the green light to play basketball again, Gorjanc signed for Slovenian top flight side KK Maribor Nova before switching to second division outfit Litija.

Dragic has always shown tremendous leadership on the court and now he has provided it off the court, too.

"Last year I decided to help Urban, who was faced with a difficult disease," he said.

"It seems to me that the basketball family in such cases needs to stand together. And we did.

"Urban's complete recovery is the best thing that could have happened and is clear confirmation that it was necessary to continue along the path that we had set."

The fundraising efforts were so successful that money was left over. Those funds will be put to good use.

"The remaining funds from the assistance of Urban will now divided between children with disabilities and children who cannot afford school supplies," Dragic pointed out.

"In this way, our mission continues, of which I am very proud of."

FIBA