Goran Dragic shares heartfelt tribute for Eric Spoelstra after meetup in Paris

From 2015 to 2021, Goran Dragic and Eric Spoelstra were one of the most recognizable player-coach duos in the league. While many NBA rosters went through overhauls, and coaches around the league were fired and replaced, Spoelstra and Dragic remained joined at the hip for some of the most formative years of Dragic's career.

After being drafted as the 45th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in 2008, Dragic was then immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns where he spent the first two and a half years of his career. From there, Dragic was traded to Houston, before then re-joining the Suns for the 2012-13 season.

Just like his first stint with the team, Dragic spent two and a half seasons with the Suns before then being traded to Miami during the 2014-15 season. The trade marked the beginning of a six-year stint with the Heat under coach Eric Spoelstra, that included Dragic's lone All-Star season in 2018.

While he is now retired from professional basketball, Goran Dragic had the chance to link up with Eric Spoelstra, who is in Paris coaching Team USA alongside Steve Kerr and Tyronn Lue. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, he thanked the longtime Heat coach, writing, in part:

"Coach Spo your guidance, support, and belief in me have made such a difference in my game and in my life. You’ve pushed me to my limits, helped me grow as a player, and taught me lessons that go beyond the court."

Check out his full post below:

"He's like family" - Eric Spoelstra talks about his close relationship with Goran Dragic

After Goran Dragic's six-and-a-half year stint with the Miami Heat, he wound up landing in Toronto for the 2021-22 season, however, early on in his first year with the team, Dragic decided to take a leave of absence.

Although he was fresh off a season where he averaged 13.4 points per game on 43.2% shooting from the field, Dragic wound up playing just five games in Toronto before being benched for young players who the franchise wanted to see develop.

Ultimately, after being excluded from the team's rotations for nine straight games, he decided to take a leave of absence, which was approved by the team. The team wound up trading Dragic to San Antonio, however, much like his rookie season after he was drafted by the Spurs, he never touched the floor.

Instead, the Slovenian star and the Spurs agreed to a buyout, paving the way for Goran Dragic to sign with the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Leading up to Dragic's debut with the team, Spoelstra spoke about his relationship with Dragic while speaking with media members in February of 2022:

"I love Goran. He’s a great fit anywhere, so you knew he was going to land somewhere. You knew he’d be highly sought after by the championship contending teams. Im happy for him. I want him to be happy. He’s like family."

While he is retired from professional basketball, given his close-knit relationship with Eric Spoelstra, one would think that if Goran Dragic wanted to, he could likely become part of the Heat's staff.