2018 NBA All-Star Goran Dragic, who hung up his sneakers last December, is gearing up for one final appearance on the court — “The Night of the Dragon,” his charity game. One of the best players to emerge from Europe, Dragic’s early years in the league were anything but smooth. To corroborate, just before he bids goodbye, the Miami Heat star had an unusual story of his trade to share.

During an episode of the Thanalysis Show, recalled the instance he was traded when 30,000 feet in the air and 30 minutes before the trade deadline. “It was tough, was bad,” he admitted speaking of his first trade experience.

In 2011, Dragic had already spent three seasons with the Phoenix Suns. The team had just wrapped up practice in Toronto, and with only 30 minutes remaining before the trade deadline, they boarded a plane. Exhausted, Dragic fell asleep, only to be jolted awake by his teammate, 8× NBA All-Star Steve Nash.

“I was in the plane, we took off… I vividly remember I was sitting next to Steve Nash, and I took a nap… we touched ground and Steve woke me up and he said, ‘I’m sorry G, um, you got traded.’ I was like, what?” Dragic recalled.

What happened next was a whirlwind. Dragic hopped on the next flight to Houston and made his debut for the Rockets the very next day against the New Jersey Nets. That season, he had already played 48 games with the Suns, averaging 7.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game.

After the trade, his stats slightly improved with the Rockets, where he averaged 7.7 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 22 games. Yet, just a season and a half later, Dragon found himself back with the Suns, where he would go on to average a career-high 20.3 points per game.

5 more teams in the next decade and Dragic wrapped his career with the Milwaukee Bucks on December 31st, 2023, though he’d wanted it to be with the Heat. “I’m really happy with my career. I achieved more than I imagined. It’s been a hell of a ride,” he said as he retired.

Now, as Dragic prepares for his farewell game, life is to come a full circle for the Slovenian star.

One last time Goran Dragic in an All-Star charity game

Goran Dragic was 15 when he signed his first professional contract. His mentor at the time – Sasa Doncic, Luka Doncic’s father. Now the Mavericks star is one of the first ones to join Dragic in his retirement game following their triumphs together in the 2017 and 2022 EuroBasket. “Back then I was the Batman and he was the Robin. Now the roles were reversed,” the Heats icon shares.

But they won’t be alone—other NBA icons, both former and current, will also be there to make “The Night of the Dragon” an unforgettable finale. As Dragic himself puts it, “A remarkable career deserves a grand finale, where charity takes center stage rather than being an afterthought but the central theme.”

This two-day event, as per Slovenian Tourist Board, isn’t just another charity game; it’s a celebration of a legacy. The festivities will kick off with a business talk and a charity gala on August 23, setting the stage for what’s coming.

But the real showstopper will be on August 24, when the event brings together some of the biggest names in basketball — Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Nikola Vučević, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Leandro Barbosa among numerous more.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.