Gogi was much talked about as a talented young basketball player in Koseze part of Ljubljana. This meant that he had to prove himself and endure some roughness when playing against older guys. But they didn't stop his trademark competitiveness. To this day, he'll still try to beat you at any game, whether it's basketball, chess, darts, or scrabble.

On the road in Velenje, playing for Ilirija, Gogi caused a lot of trouble for his opponents in the first half. He was wriggling between opponents 30 kilograms heavier than him, so much so that a home fan in the stands demanded his team stop him, even at the cost of an injury. During half-time, a brief conversation with Goran's coach, Spasoje Todorović, ensured that the hot-blooded fan did not speak again in the second half.

Gogi was a popular teenager but modest and down-to-earth. As the son of a driving instructor, he got behind the wheel of a car a little earlier than his peers. His self-confidence was never in question anyway. The best proof of this is his decision to go to the NBA. He took a huge risk by buying out a contract in Europe, but he made a brave decision with faith in himself, and it paid off.

I have five children who have met hundreds of athletes in their lives, but Gogi is their favorite. They love his authenticity. He is one of those people who will somehow find out about your wedding anniversary and call you to congratulate you. You try even harder as an agent for such a player, not only because it's your job but because you value him as a person.

Goran and I played together for the first time at the 2006 World Championships in Japan. The team quickly accepted him, and his attitude and enthusiasm made him fit in immediately. He was a bit shy initially, but he was very competitive and talented on the floor. After that, we spent many summers together, training and competing. We were even roommates at the World Championships in Spain in 2014. We got along great; he was always full of positive energy.

I've heard about Goran before as a promising young basketball player, but the first time we played together was at the 2009 European Championship in Poland. He had strong competition at his position in the national team and he made great use of his first national team call-ups to learn from his older teammates. We also got along great outside the basketball arenas. He loves to laugh and is always in the foreground when it comes to fun moments.

Gogi is three years older than me. That's why we spent our childhood playing together. From basketball to roller hockey and baseball. When he started playing football, I started playing football. Then he switched to basketball, and I followed him again. We are both very competitive.This competitiveness came out when we played together as kids against our dad, two on one. The prize for winning was ice cream. Since he couldn't beat us, he used to make up the score to put him in the lead. He would always cheat. In the end, though, we all went for a well-deserved ice cream.

Goran has earned his popularity, alongside his success as an athlete, through his accessibility. He always makes time for a photo, an autograph, and a chat with his fans, whatever the situation. When he is approached during dinner in a restaurant, an interaction that would be routine or even unwelcome for most celebrities can take so long that the food on his plate almost goes cold.

Gogi always knew how to take care of the people around him. In my younger days, his brother Zoran and I often ate at his expense. Playing for Slovan, he earned food vouchers, which Zoki and I used to spend on spaghetti bolognese.