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Goran Dragic replaces Kevin Love in 2018 NBA All-Star game

A post shared by Goran Dragic (@the_1_dragon) on Sep 27, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

InsideHoops.com

Heat guard Goran Dragic has been selected by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Cavs forward/center Kevin Love on Team LeBron in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Los Angeles on February 18.

This will be Dragic’s first-time as an NBA All-Star.

Dragic is the first player from Slovenia to earn the honor.

The Southeast Division-leading Heat (29-22) have the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference through games of January 31, 2018, and Dragic, a 10-year veteran, has been a big part of their success. He’s averaging team-highs of 17.0 points and 4.8 assists per game.

Dragic joins Kyle Korver (2015), Tyson Chandler (2013) and Sam Cassell (2004) as the most recent players to be named an All-Star for the first time in their 10th season or later.

Love will miss the 2018 NBA All-Star Game due to a fracture in his left hand.

Goran Dragic set to return for Heat

Good news for the Heat as guard Goran Dragic is returning quickly after taking a hard elbow to the face. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting:

The veteran point guard is back in the mix for the Miami Heat after missing Sunday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers with a right orbital contusion.

“I mean, it’s a little bit blurry, but that’s normal,” Dragic said Wednesday, in advance of facing the New Orleans Pelicans at AmericanAirlines Arena. “Doc said it’s going to take time to clear the fluids, the swelling, but it’s much better.”

Dragic was injured on an inadvertent elbow from Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph in a Saturday victory, before sitting out the loss to the Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Lots of pressure on Goran Dragic this season

With Dwyane Wade gone and Chris Bosh still out indefinitely due to health concerns, there’s every chance in the world for point guard Goran Dragic to rise up and do big things. Considering how young the rest of the squad’s key players are, Miami needs Dragic to exceed all expectations. Here’s the Miami Herald with more:

Goran Dragic made it clear from the start that when the Miami Heat traded for him 19 months ago he was only around to support Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, not step on their toes.

Dragic, 30, obviously doesn’t have to worry about playing backup singer to anyone on the Heat anymore. With Wade, a 12-time All-Star, gone to Chicago in free agency, and Bosh, an 11-time All-Star, out for the foreseeable future after failing a physical this week in his continuing battle with blood clots, the Heat is as much Dragic’s team now as it is Hassan Whiteside’s.

“I’m ready,” Dragic said Saturday afternoon between signing autographs and taking photos with fans who lined up by the dozens at the Heat store inside Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater to meet the 2014 All-NBA third team point guard.

Miami Heat re-sign Goran Dragic

The Miami HEAT have re-signed guard Goran Dragic.

According the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “the five-year deal came in at just over $85 million, about $20 million less than the maximum for a player of his NBA tenure, but an amount that Dragic and his agent believed would allow the Heat to reemerge from last season’s lottery struggles, especially when 2016 free agency rolls around.”

“When we traded for Goran last season, we knew he was the type of player and person that we wanted to be part of our HEAT culture,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “His pace, ability and vision for the game is the perfect complement to lead our team as we look to bring another championship to Miami. We are pleased he has re-signed and will wear the HEAT uniform for years to come and make Miami his home.”

Dragic split last season between the HEAT and Phoenix Suns, averaging 16.3 points, 4.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.00 steals and 33.8 minutes, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field. He led all guards and ranked 19th overall in the NBA in field goal percentage and also ranked among NBA leaders in minutes per game (29th), assists per game (31st) and scoring average (39th). Additionally, he set a single-season career high in offensive (81), defensive (193) and total (274) rebounds. He scored in double figures 68 times, including 27 games with at least 20 points and one 30-point performance. In his 26 games with the HEAT, he averaged 16.6 points (.502 FG%, .808 FT%), 5.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.08 steals and 34.8 minutes. He topped the HEAT in scoring four times, in assists 17 times, in minutes 10 times, in steals on eight occasions and in blocks twice.

The 6’3”, 190-pound guard, who was the NBA’s Most Improved Player and All-NBA Third Team selection during the 2013-14 season, has appeared in 502 NBA regular season games (266 starts) during his seven-year career and has averaged 12.2 points, 4.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 26.0 minutes while shooting 47.0 percent from the floor, 36.1 percent from three-point range and 75.1 percent from the foul line.

Dragic was acquired by the HEAT on February 19, 2015, along with Zoran Dragic, in a three-team trade involving the Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans in which Miami sent Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton and Shawne Williams to New Orleans and Phoenix received Danny Granger and a pair of first-round draft picks from Miami and John Salmons from New Orleans.