SLO - "Girlish" Dragic dishes assists and jokes

KLAIPEDA (EuroBasket 2011) - Goran Dragic is not only the butt of jokes within the Slovenian national team but he is also known to dish it out just as much as his assists have Slovenia's Olympic dreams alive and well.

The 25-year-old Ljubljana native has emerged as one of Slovenia's leaders in the backcourt along with veteran Jaka Lakovic.

One of Dragic's keys is the fun he brings to the team on the court with his passes and off the hardwood with his humor.

"He's kind of like a joker for Slovenians - full of energy, incredibly quick and wise," said Slovenia stalwart Matjaz Smodis about the Houston Rockets guard.

"With every appearance on the court, he adds bright colors to the game."

Off the court, however, he makes his teammates laugh with a bag he carries around.

"I've got a bag that my girlfriend once presented me. So, every time I bring it with me in the gym (Slovenia head coach Bozidar Maljkovic) Boza says: 'Hey, man, what's that? Put down that girlish bag!'" recalled Dragic.

"The guys in the team used to call it 'girlish' too, so it makes them laugh every time they see it."

While Dragic makes his teammates laugh, he makes his opponents cry with his performances on the court.

"Goran is probably one of the most talented young guys in Europe," said Slovenian veteran Rasho Nesterovic, who recently announced his retirement from basketball but is in Klaipeda as a special advisor to the national team.

"I just hope he'll keep improving and become even better and turn into the real leader of our national team. Guys feel confident in him because of his athletic ability, his extremely high basketball IQ and universal role on the court."

Smodis said another of Dragic's main drawing points is his ability to play for both his teammates and the fans.

"He not only plays pragmatically but very showily as well to let the spectators feel the joy of the game," said Smodis.

"He's on the right way to become the real basketball star. I hope he'll help our team to qualify for the Olympics."

Slovenia want Dragic to be dishing the assists and the jokes at London 2012.

FIBA