Jump to content Page index

Stories from Slovenia

Slovenia, the Land of Dragons and Golden Basketball Players

Published:
29.9.2017

Slovenia, the Land of Dragons and Golden Basketball Players

Basketball euphoria engulfed Slovenia after a golden weekend brought our biggest success in the history of Slovenian team sports! The national basketball team of Slovenia really showed its dragon heart; as the first team since 1995 to go undefeated in the EuroBasket Championship, they played in and won the 2017 final. The Golden Basketball Players of Slovenia defeated Serbia 93-85 in the tournament’s most exciting game, which was a battle of the fast and furious.

Slovenia only had one NBA player, but Goran Dragić, the captain of the golden team, looked like an All-Star against Serbia, as several sports journalists from all over Europe commented. Dragić brought Slovenia 35 points to beat Serbia in the final, earning the award for the most valuable player. A superb display by the whole team, and especially by the 18-year-old sensation of EuroBasket 2017, Luka Dončić, who was together with Dragić proclaimed one of the top 5 players of the Championship, helped Slovenia storm into their first major basketball final, after a huge victory against the Spanish defending champions.

The golden basketball players returned to Slovenia on the wings of victory, supported by tens of thousands of fans, who gathered at a reception in the main square of the Slovenian capital. The winged Dragon, featured in Ljubljana's coat of arms, silently saluted his Dragon fellow; this is the nickname of Goran Dragić in the United States. He is now retiring from the national basketball team: "I achieved what I wanted, the gold medal, and this is the right time to bid farewell." Goran said the team spirit was decisive in winning all the matches of the Championship. Welcome to Slovenia, the country of sports champions and great conditions for indoor and outdoor training!

Contacts

Global public relations and Marketing
e-mail address: press(at)slovenia.info

Sign up for the Trade News

Be up to date about what’s happening in Slovenian tourism. By subscribing to our newsletter you will receive the latest trade news in the field of tourism and other current information on a monthly basis.

Share with friends

This content is not available in Russian language.

Please visit the homepage or select another language.