Goran Dragic adjusting to new role with Phoenix Suns, but still happy with team

Phoenix Suns fans received a treat Tuesday night when they saw Goran Dragic play his best game of the season against the Indiana Pacers.

Dragic had 34 points, including 22 in the first half, and also finished with five rebounds, three assists and four steals. The point total was a new season high for the Slovenian guard.

Dragic’s numbers have dropped from his All-NBA Third Team performance last season, when he averaged 20.3 points on 50.5 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from three-point range.

One of the main reasons for this decrease is Dragic’s new role on the team. With the arrival of Isaiah Thomas, Dragic has spent most of his time at the shooting guard position, while Thomas and Eric Bledsoe split the point guard duties. Dragic said it’s been a difficult transition for him.

“It’s really hard,” Dragic told Burns and Gambo Wednesday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “It’s hard to explain, but for people working in jobs, let’s say they’re working marketing and then they move them to a different position.”

His usage rate — defined as the number of possessions a player uses per 40 minutes — is down from 24.1 last season to 20.7. He is fourth on the Suns in that category, behind Thomas, Gerald Green and Eric Bledsoe.

“It’s kind of a different situation because all these last, I don’t know, 10 years, when I was a point guard, I had the ball in my hand and I was making plays for others, I was making plays for myself,” Dragic said. “Now, the others are making plays for me and I need to move without the ball. It’s a little bit harder for me because I never did that before.”

Playing off the ball more is a sacrifice Dragic said he is willing to make for the sake of the team, though it’s not his preferred position.

“I mean, I’d rather play as a point guard, of course, but last year we had tremendous success with the Suns and I was happy. Me and Eric, we had a great balance. Half of the game, he was a point guard, half of the game, I was the point guard.

“But like I said, this year is different because Isaiah is here. But, you know, I’m not trying to put pressure on me and I’m not trying to look towards the future. I need to patient right now and try to work on my game and try to help them as a two guard.”

Dragic is expected to opt out of next year’s player option on his contract. Everything Dragic has said up to this point suggests he plans to sign a new contract with Phoenix early in free agency.

When asked whether he thought about signing with another team where he could play more as point guard, Dragic said, “No, no, no, not really. If I am happy with the team and, so far, in the last three years, I’m really happy here and I think it’s a great situation here for me.”

To further soothe the worries of Suns fans, he added, “I’m going to explore the option, but one of the main options is to stay here in Phoenix because I love these fans. I love this city, the organization, and I want to be part of this for next year too.”

Follow @AZSports