When the news broke that Goran Dragic wanted to leave the NBA after his contract ends in 2012, I didn’t believe it.

Oh, sure, international players get homesick, and you can’t blame them. But Dragic has seemed so happy with his time in Phoenix. He also seems content coming off the bench knowing that someday soon, when point guard Steve Nash retires, Dragic is likely to be handed the keys to the team.

Thankfully for the Suns’ sake, Dragic sent an email to the Arizona Republic, politely saying that the report out of Greece was simply a misunderstanding.

“This news is not correct, because I made a statement that I want to end my basketball career in Europe. So this is a big misunderstanding of the Greek (journalist),” he wrote. “In this moment I’m very happy in the NBA and I’m not going to Europe! I am a member of the Phoenix Suns, and my desire is to stay in Phoenix for many years!”

Dragic, a 6-foot-3 guard out of Yugoslavia, averaged 7.9 points and 3.0 assists per game last season, his second in the NBA (both with Phoenix). And who can forget his 26-point performance, on 10-for-13 shooting, in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against San Antonio?

Bottom line is Dragic is a real up-and-comer and the Suns are fortunate to have such a player behind Nash. The fact he said he’s staying in Phoenix has to be relief for Suns fans everywhere.

Quick introduction

Suns Gab is a new blog from the Sports Gab Network, and I am proud to say I will be the editor. I have been a fan of the Suns since childhood, and contributed a regular blog to their official website last season (and will do so again this year, along with my duties at Suns Gab).

I also covered the Cleveland Cavaliers for NBA.com this past season, as well as provided NBA analysis for CBSSports.com, NBCSports.com and USA Today. Feel free to comment below or send your Suns-related thoughts to me at amico@probasketballnews.com.

Thanks and I look forward to getting to know you — and continuing to write about the Suns.