Goran Dragic, one of top point guards in Heat history, reportedly decides to retire

One of the best points guards in Miami Heat history is retiring.

Goran Dragic will retire after 15 NBA seasons and will play a farewell game in Slovenia in August, according to European media reports. Dragic split last season between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, but did not join a team this season before recently deciding to retire.

Dragic is expected to formally announce his retirement during a press conference in Slovenia this upcoming week, when he’ll also release details surrounding his farewell game that will be part of a two-day charity event.

How injuries have affected Heat’s leading trio of Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro

Dragic, 37, spent seven seasons with the Heat before he was traded to the Toronto Raptors as part of the Kyle Lowry deal in the 2021 offseason. He ranks among the Heat’s all-time leaders in field goals made (ninth in Heat history), three-point shots made (seventh), assists (third) and points (ninth).

Dragic joined the Heat when the Phoenix Suns traded him to Miami in February 2015. He averaged 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range in 391 (282 starts) regular-season games with the Heat.

One of Dragic’s best stretches with the Heat came during the team’s 2020 playoff run to the NBA Finals in the Disney bubble amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when Miami fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the championship series. He averaged a team-high 20.9 points to go with 4.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 36.3 percent on threes in the first three rounds of the playoffs before tearing the plantar fascia in his left foot in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Dragic, who was drafted in the second round in 2008, appeared in one All-Star Game during his NBA career and it came in 2018 as a member of the Heat. He appeared in 391 regular-season games and 40 playoffs games with the Heat, which are both more than he played in with any other single team.

While with the Heat, Dragic also helped lead Slovenia to the EuroBasket championship during the 2017 offseason for one of the top accomplishments in his basketball career.

As part of an interview during last season’s playoffs, Dragic told the Miami Herald that he wanted to play two more seasons. He was interested in re-joining the Heat, but that never came to fruition.

Despite not being on the Heat’s roster this season, Dragic has attended multiple Heat home games recently and he has remained close to many within the organization.