No, Goran Dragic mentioned, the thought by no means was a few reunion tour, definitely not something like when Dwyane Wade returned to a Miami Heat roster that featured Dragic in 2018.
And but if that is the NBA finish for Dragic, as he mentioned it nicely is likely to be, there’s a symmetry to this second, not solely as a part of the Milwaukee Bucks roster that’s dealing with the Heat on this first-round best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff collection, but in addition as a part of a Heat reunion within the Bucks’ locker room.
In addition to Dragic, the Bucks’ playoff roster additionally options former Heat ahead Jae Crowder and former Heat middle Meyers Leonard. All three had been on the Heat roster that superior to the 2020 NBA Finals within the Disney World quarantine bubble.
“It feels good to be with familiar faces,” Dragic mentioned, with the Heat dealing with the Bucks in Game 2 of their collection on Wednesday evening at Fiserv Forum. “We spent a lot of time together that year. We played tremendously well. And we’re back together.”
Dragic paused and smiled.
“And it’s definitely weird because now we’re playing against Miami,” he mentioned, having been with the Heat from February 2015 till the tip of the 2020-21 season.
It is a reunion and a matchup additionally not misplaced on Crowder and Leonard.
“It feels great to have those guys with me again, some good familiar faces who I have been to battle with,” mentioned Crowder, the lone member of the previous Heat trio within the Bucks’ major rotation. “Just being on the same team and coming here at the same time as me, everything is fresh for us, even if it’s familiar. It’s great to have those guys with me.”
A reunion additionally not misplaced on Leonard.
“It’s pretty crazy, when you think about it,” he mentioned. “That’s part of what made this such a perfect landing spot for me.”
For Leonard, 31, the chance is a part of what he hopes is an NBA rebirth after uttering an anti-Semitic slur whereas livestreaming video gaming as a member of the Heat in 2021.
For Crowder, 32, it’s a pathway again to title competition, as one other spherical of free company approaches in July.
But for Dragic, 36, it’s all in regards to the second.
“I don’t know what’s next,” he mentioned as he sat on the Bucks’ bench throughout pregame warmups. “It’s gonna depend on what happens this year.”
In the wake of creating these 2020 NBA Finals with the Heat solely to succumb to a foot damage within the collection the Heat misplaced 4-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dragic has been chasing his championship dream elsewhere.
After being dealt by the Heat to the Toronto Raptors within the 2021 offseason within the commerce for Kyle Lowry, Dragic maneuvered his technique to the Brooklyn Nets in time for final season’s playoffs, solely to be swept out of the primary spherical by the Boston Celtics.
He then moved within the offseason to the Chicago Bulls, solely to endure a dropping file earlier than his midseason launch.
And now this championship chase is as veteran depth on the No. 1 seed within the Eastern Conference.
“I mean it’s part of the business,” he mentioned of a post-Heat whirlwind that largely has been lean on taking part in time. “I know I’m not young anymore. I could have re-signed with Brooklyn, but I didn’t want to be in that situation, because it was a little bit crazy. I just tried to find a team that’s calmer and to be more stable. I thought that would be with Chicago.”
That stability now comes with acquainted faces, each within the Bucks’ locker room and the roster of the opposition on this opening-round collection.
“I still love basketball,” he mentioned with one other smile. “So that’s why I’m still here.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com