One of Slovenia’s greatest basketball players of all time, Goran Dragić has raised €886,000 as ambassador of a charity foundation that helps aspiring athletes from underprivileged families in the most successful year for the project yet, handing over the sponsorship to Olympic climbing champion Janja Garnbret.

Dragić bid farewell as ambassador of the charity foundation of the Slovenian Olympic Committee at a gala fund-raising event in Ljubljana, which raised €120,000 for the cause.

Dragić said he would remember the year 2024 forever, not only because of his farewell game but also because of his role as charity ambassador. “Sport shapes us, but it mostly unites us,” he said.

Retiring as a professional athlete after 15 seasons in the NBA, Dragić hosted a charity exhibition game at Stožice Arena in August featuring NBA stars and retired legends of the sport.

Capping a successful year as charity ambassador for the Slovenian Olympic Committee, Gogi as he is known to friends and fans handed the baton to Garnbret for a year. Garnbret, who defended her Olympic gold in Paris this year by winning the women’s boulder & lead event, was “happy, proud and honoured” to accept the role.