Goran Dragic names EuroLeague teams that could compete in NBA / News - Basketnews.com

Goran Dragic believes Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Anadolu Efes could compete with the NBA teams, but at the same, he's not sure for how long.

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

The Milwaukee Bucks and Slovenia national team guard Goran Dragic believes three EuroLeague clubs could compete with the NBA teams.

Goran Dragic

MIN:15PTS:6.29 (45.26%)REB:1.4As:2.6ST:0.22BL:0.07TO:1.09GM:58ProfileNBA2022/2023

The 36-year-old Slovenian gave an interview to Mundo Deportivo and was asked about the possibility of EuroLeague teams playing in the recently announced NBA mid-season tournament.

"It must be taken into account that Euroleague teams are not used to playing at such a high pace," Dragic told Toni Canyameras from Mundo Deportivo. "Definitely, top teams like Barça, Real Madrid, and Efes can compete, but I don't know how many wins they could achieve. It's hard to say."

"But it sounds fun; I want to see it, it would be good for basketball. The NBA has a brutal schedule, and I don't know how they can do it. We went to play in Paris (the Bulls-Pistons in January), and it was tough," Dragic added.

Dragic also didn't want to discuss his availability for the upcoming FIBA World Cup.

"World Cup is a different competition because there are teams you haven't played against, like the African and the Asian teams," Dragic explained. "That's what makes World Cup different."

Goran DragicCredit FIBA

"But then again, everything is always the same. You have the United States, Australia, and other European countries. It's very hard, we'll see; I don't know if I'm going yet. We'll see what happens over time," Dragic added.

Even though he doesn't know yet whether he'll play, Dragic says that the goals should always be high with Luka Doncic on the roster.

"It all depends on who is going to come, who is going to play; that alone changes everything. We were one of the favorites in the EuroBasket, and we lost [in the quarterfinal against Poland]. It is what it is. You have to be mentally strong and try to be ready for the next game," said Dragic.

Finally, he also admitted that team chemistry during EuroBasket 2022 was different from the 2017 edition.

"I don't know, everything is different. The chemistry was not the same as in 2017 when we won," Dragic told Mundo Deportivo. "Small details, it also depends on other factors... The [competition] system is intriguing because you get past the group stage, and then you have to win because if you lose, you go home. It's like March Madness."

"You have to be focused on every game. If you ask me what we have to improve, then play the best basketball we can at that moment. We had a tough group in the last EuroBasket, and we won almost every game. And then Poland eliminates us in a tie in which on paper we should have won," Dragic concluded.

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