Former NBA guard Goran Dragic already had a fair idea of how great Luka Doncic would be long before arriving in the league. Aside from sharing the same home country of Slovenia, the man known as “The Dragon” also played with Luka’s father on the national team and met Luka when he was only five.
So, as the young Slovenian entered the league in 2018, Goran began telling everyone he knew, including players on his team at the time, the Miami Heat, that the league had someone special in their hands. But not everyone was quick to believe him. James Johnson , who played with Goran on the Heat during this time, didn't take The Dragon's warning seriously at first. However, as Luka quickly proved himself to be a generational talent in his rookie year, the skepticism surrounding Dragic's words began to fade. JJ soon became a believer as well.
JJ was hesitant to take Goran’s words seriously
JJ, nicknamed “Bloodsport” for his proficiency in mixed martial arts, remembered the moment like it was yesterday. He, Goran, Udonis Haslem, and several other Heat players were shooting the breeze when the left-handed guard casually mentioned Luka, who the Atlanta Hawks picked with the third pick but traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young.
“You remember when we was playing with Dragon? Dragon was in Miami, yeah, so he was telling—once they drafted Luka, he was like, ‘He's going to be the best player,’ remember that?” JJ shared .
“We sitting together talking, he was like, ‘He's going to be one of the best.’ I'm like, ‘Yeah, right,’ 'cause I'm like, ‘How tall is he?’ 'Cause now he starts to measure him up to me, and I'm like, ‘Yeah, right, you know what I'm saying?’” the 6-foot-7 forward from Wake Forest added.
One can understand JJ’s skepticism. Despite the success of numerous European players in the NBA, like Dirk Nowitzki, Kristaps Porzingis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, there has always been a level of doubt surrounding international prospects. Luka’s struggles early on certainly didn’t help his case with Johnson.
“I think Rick had him at the four at the time; he was playing the four, man. Yeah, and he didn't have no good games at the four. And then, we was talking to Dragon again. I'm like, ‘I thought you said your man was nice, what's good?’ He was like, ‘Nah, he is nice, he's just not playing his right position,’” James shared.
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It was only a matter of time
Regardless of where a player previously played—the NCAA, overseas, or even the G-League—adjusting to the NBA game can be daunting. Factor in having to adapt to a new country and culture and learning a new system with unfamiliar faces, it’s no surprise that many international prospects struggle in their first year. This was certainly the case for Luka, who entered the NBA at 19 and faced challenges in his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks.
However, as with all the greats, once they figure it out, they never look back.
“Boom, once Rick put him at the one, that man went wild—had like four triple-doubles in a row, and there were like 30-point games. I was like, ‘Yo, your boy's a maestro,’” JJ recalled. “I was like, ‘Yo, that's—that's definitely different.’”
Luka has definitely not looked back, carving his place in the NBA as one of its best players. While he’s only played six seasons, he’s already amassed plenty of accolades, including five All-Star selections and five All-NBA team berths.
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