Goran Dragic is this year's Most Improved Player in the NBA. "The Dragon" had a surprising and stellar season, leading his Phoenix Suns within arm's reach of the playoffs. They fell short this year, but make no mistake, Dragic's and the Suns' season was no fluke. The young team, guided by their first-time coach, is expected to build on their experience this year, get several good prospects in this year's deep draft and be a threat in the Western Conference for years to come.
The main reason for their unexpected success really stemmed from Dragic's improved play:
- Career high of 20.3 points per game (up from 14.7)
- Career high of 50.5% FG shooting (up from 44.3%)
- 3FG shooting of 40.8% (up from 31.9%)
He was the only player this season to achieve at least 50% from the field and 40% from deep. Defenses didn't know what to prioritize - do you stop his drive or his threes? Give him space and dare him to shoot or stick to him like glue and risk the drive-by? In addition to all that, he still managed almost 6 assists and 3 rebounds a game.
With Dragic's breakout season and Phoenix's (once again) exciting brand of basketball, he could be heading towards another improvement - his marketability in the sneaker industry. He might not ever get his own signature shoe, especially since he's not the stereotypical young, explosive superstar who played ball in the streets of America. But with consistently brilliant performances next season, he could have a significantly larger influence on his home country of Slovenia and the city he plays for, Phoenix.
That said, let's take a look at what shoes Dragic wore this season:
 |
| adizero Crazy Light. Photo from nbcsports.com |
 |
| adipure Crazyquick. Photo from sneakerreport.com |
 |
| adidas D Rose 773 (Orange/Black). Photo from solecollector.com |
 |
| adidas D Rose 773 (Purple/Black). Photo from sneakerreport.com |
Comments
Post a Comment