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Suns Sign Zoran Dragic

The Phoenix Suns have signed Slovenian guard Zoran Dragic to a multiyear contract, the team announced today. 

“Zoran’s will to win and intensity stand out every time he steps on to the court,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “He has been a very productive player in Euroleague, ACB and FIBA competitions. He excels defensively and in transition and I think our fans will quickly recognize his passion for the game.”

The 25-year-old Dragic joins the Suns after spending the last ten seasons playing professionally in Spain and his native Slovenia. The lefthander has also represented Slovenia at several international competitions as a member of the senior national team. Earlier this month, Dragic averaged 12.9 points on 50.0 percent shooting, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.3 assists and 26.3 minutes in seven games at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. Dragic also played for Slovenia at 2011 and 2013 FIBA EuroBasket, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds over 22 games in the two tournaments.

Most recently in his professional career, the 6-5, 200-pound guard has played the last two seasons with Unicaja Malaga in Spain, where against top competition in the Euroleague last season, he averaged 10.9 points on 41.3 percent shooting from the field, 2.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 22.5 minutes in 22 games. Dragic also performed well in Spain’s renowned ACB League, averaging 10.3 points on 44.4 percent shooting, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 18.1 minutes in 29 games in 2013-14. A disruptive wing defender, Dragic averaged 1.21 steals in ACB League games. 

Dragic began play with Ilirija Ljubljana in Slovenia as a 15-year-old in the 2004-05 season before playing the 2005-06 season with Jance STZ Ljubljana. The following four seasons, Dragic played with Geoplin Slovan in Slovenia’s premier league where he participated in the 2008 Slovenian all-star game. Dragic signed with Krka Novo Mesto of Slovenia prior to the 2010-11 season and helped lead Krka to the 2010-11 and 2011-12 Slovenian national championships, 2010 and 2011 Slovenian Super Cup titles and 2011 Euro Challenge title in his two seasons with the club. Dragic moved to Spain for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons after signing with Unicaja Malaga. 

Dragic’s only prior NBA experience came in 2012 when he played in four games as a member of the Houston Rockets at Las Vegas Summer League.

The younger brother of Suns guard Goran Dragic, Zoran’s signing gives the Suns the 15th pair of brother teammates in NBA history and, along with Marcus and Markieff Morris, makes the Suns the first team in league history to have two separate pairs of brothers as teammates at the same time. Zoran and Goran have previously been teammates on Slovenia’s national team at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and the 2011 and 2013 FIBA EuroBasket competitions.