The end of the Goran Dragic Era in Phoenix dissolved into an ugly war of words, and Dragic says he wishes that things could have been handled differently.
Dragic won in his first meeting with his old squad Monday night, leading the Miami Heat to a 115-98 victory against the visiting Suns.
Markieff Morris was ejected after flagrantly fouling his former teammate on a fastbreak.
Per the Sun-Sentinel:
“It means a lot because you always want to play good against your ex-teammates,” Dragic said. “When I was in Houston I did the same thing.” […] Two weeks ago, Dragic was traded from the Suns to Miami. Six games into his new surroundings, he got the better of the team he played with for five seasons. Dragic finished with 21 points on 5 of 9 shooting in just 15 minutes.
Dragic was fouled on a breakaway layup, causing him to take a scary (fall) underneath the basket. He landed on his back and Morris was ejected for the play. Gragic, who was dealing with back pain before the game, was surrounded by his teammates as he lay on the floor for several minutes. After shaking off the pain, he remained in the game. […] “I didn’t watch the play,” Dragic said. “I think I had a wide open layup and he just hit me. It was kind of painful but at the same time [Dwyane Wade] came to me and said, `Please stand up. They want you to be on the floor.’ I said, `Hey, you know I’m standing up.”’
Before Monday’s game, Dragic said he regretted some of the things he said publicly while requesting a trade. He never had any ill feelings toward team owner Robert Sarver. A day after the trade, Dragic even phoned Sarver to apologize. […] “I wish it would have gone differently,” Dragic said. “I’m not a guy who is going back in the past. It is what is. I’m always going to be grateful of that organization and Robert and what his family did for me.”
