4. Goran Dragic Finally Being An All-Star
The Slovenian Dragon has been in the NBA since 2008, and not once has he made the All-Star team. Having played professional basketball for five years prior in Slovenia, the guard landed with the Phoenix Suns after entering the draft. But it was not smooth sailing yet.
In fact, he did not really start to make a name for himself until he returned to Phoenix in 2012. With Steve Nash out, Dragic came in as his replacement, and went to work fast. Although as a whole, the season was a disaster, Dragic shined. In his first year back, he averaged 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.6 steals. And Dragic only developed further with time. That next year, his numbers grew to 20.3 points a game, and also averaged 3.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.4 steals. He became the first player since Rod Strickland (1985) to set career-highs in points three times in a single month and the sixth (among the likes of James and Kevin Durant) to join the 20-50-40 club. In other words, he was averaging 20 or more points, while shooting 50 plus percent from the field and 40 plus percent from beyond-the-arc.
As with Green, it may be too early to predict honors, awards, etc. but some are speculating that with the amount of talent around him, Dragic may actually be headed towards being a NBA All-Star for the first time in his career.
Here is to you, Dragon.