Bogdan Bogdanovic will begin his eighth season in the NBA, his fifth with the Hawks. And while he was seen this summer in Europe with a Partizan Belgrade jersey, the guard/winger is not ready to cross the Atlantic again.
“I wanted to support the club where I started my professional career” he explains. “Everyone knows how much I love Partizan. I trained in their hall, they offered me the conditions I needed and I wanted to send them a message of thanks. I know that everyone is waiting for a promise (let him come back) but, not to lie to you, I'm focused on the NBA, and on being the best I can be.”
The oldest of the Hawks' young roster
Obviously, if he has to return to Europe, the best scorer in the history of the Serbian selection admits that “Emotions will surely dictate” his choice. Translation: he would probably put the Partizan jersey back on.
In the meantime, at 32, his short-term goal is mainly to avoid injuries, which have often slowed him down.
“I want to play all 82 games (of the regular season). I've never managed to do it and it's very difficult. Last season, I missed two games (three, actually, editor's note), one because I was sick and the other because I was injured. I think I can do it this season.” he concludes, while he will be the oldest player in the squad, and therefore a mentor for youngsters like Zaccharie Risacher. “We have to work on the collective atmosphere, because we have a lot of young players, but we can do things with Trae Young, Capela, Hunter… It's a new challenge for me but, in the NBA, everything is possible, everywhere. You just have to have faith, and perseverance.”
| Bogdan Bogdanovic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | BAG | 78 | 28 | 44.6 | 39.2 | 84.0 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 11.8 |
| 2018-19 | BAG | 70 | 28 | 41.8 | 36.0 | 82.7 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 14.1 |
| 2019-20 | BAG | 61 | 29 | 44.0 | 37.2 | 74.1 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 15.2 |
| 2020-21 | ATL | 44 | 30 | 47.3 | 43.8 | 90.9 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 16.4 |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 63 | 29 | 43.1 | 36.8 | 84.3 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 15.1 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 54 | 28 | 44.7 | 40.6 | 83.1 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 14.0 |
| 2023-24 | ATL | 79 | 30 | 42.8 | 37.4 | 92.1 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 16.9 |
| Total | 449 | 29 | 43.8 | 38.4 | 84.3 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 14.7 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
