Bojan Bogdanovic has risen to become one of the premier scorers and shooters in the NBA today. His path from young Croatian prospect to key contributor on contending teams has been marked by determination, skill development, and a clutch shooting touch.
In the high-stakes world of the NBA, only the most talented and driven players can thrive under the bright lights. Bojan Bogdanovic epitomizes this, bringing elite scoring and sharpshooting to every team he joins. The New York Knicks are the latest franchise hoping Bogdanović can push them to new heights.
Through hard work and perseverance, Bojan Bogdanović has overcome injuries and obstacles to become one of the NBA’s most feared offensive weapons. His journey illuminates the dedication required to not just reach, but thrive at the pinnacle of pro basketball.
Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanović is a Croatian professional basketball player for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the shooting guard and small forward positions.
Bogdanović was selected in the 2011 NBA draft by the Miami Heat, and has since played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz and most recently, the Detroit Pistons. He earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2015.
Known for his sharpshooting from three-point range, Bogdanović is one of the NBA’s most prolific and efficient scorers. He has averaged over 15 points per game for his career, including multiple 20+ point per game seasons. Entering his 10th NBA season in 2022-2023, the 33-year-old veteran brings valuable experience and scoring punch to a young, rising Knicks squad.
This article will chronicle Bojan Bogdanović’s background, journey through professional basketball, playing style, challenges faced, and outlook for the future. It underscores how hard work and persistence empowered Bogdanović to realization of his NBA dreams.
Early Life and Career
Bojan Bogdanović was born on April 18, 1989, in Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. Basketball runs in his genes, as his father was a member of the Yugoslavian national team in the 1970s.
Bogdanović first began playing basketball as a young child for his hometown club HKK Zrinjski Mostar. He later joined the youth teams of Real Madrid in Spain at age 16.
The young Croatian made his professional debut in 2006 with Croatian club Zrinjevac Zagreb in the country’s A-1 Liga. After being named the Croatian League’s Top Prospect in 2007, he continued developing overseas, playing in Bosnia, Spain and Turkey.
Bogdanović entered the 2011 NBA Draft after an impressive season in the EuroLeague. He was selected 31st overall in the second round by the Miami Heat, becoming just the second Croatian player ever drafted.
NBA Career
After being drafted in 2011, Bojan Bogdanovic continued maturing his game overseas for two more seasons in Turkey instead of immediately joining the NBA.
He finally signed an NBA contract with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014. Bogdanović made an immediate impact, averaging 9.7 points per game and earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2014-15.
Over his first 3 NBA seasons with Brooklyn, Bogdanović became a crucial role player and scorer off the bench. He posted a career-best 13.7 points per game in 2016-17 before being traded to the Washington Wizards.
Bogdanović excelled after joining Washington in 2017, reaching new highs of 14.6 points per game along with 3.6 rebounds. In 2018 he was part of a trade to the Indiana Pacers.
It was in Indiana that Bogdanović truly broke out, starting 77 games and averaging career-highs of 18 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in the 2018-19 season. He shot an excellent 42.5% from 3-point range and notched 55 games scoring 15+ points.
In 2019 Bogdanović signed a 4-year, $73 million contract with the Utah Jazz. He became a full-time starter for Utah, pouring in over 20 points per game in his two seasons there. Bogdanović netted a career-high 48 points in January 2021 against the Denver Nuggets. He scored 36+ points on four other occasions for the Jazz.
Prior to the 2022-23 season
The Detroit Pistons acquired Bogdanović in a trade from Utah. He continued his elite scoring for Detroit, averaging 20.2 points through his first 19 games.
However on January 10, 2023, Bogdanović was traded again – this time to the surging New York Knicks in exchange for Alec Burks, Quentin Grimes and two second-round picks. The veteran forward brings much-needed shooting and offense to a New York team hoping to contend in the Eastern Conference.
In total across 629 NBA games, Bogdanović owns career averages of 15.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He’s a career 38.3% shooter from 3-point range and 86% from the free throw line. Few players in the league today can match his versatile scoring arsenal.
Playing Style and Skills
Standing 6’7″ and weighing 225 lbs, Bojan Bogdanovic relies on skill and shooting touch to maximize his effectiveness on the court. He excels as an offensive-minded wing player.
Bogdanović is most dangerous operating without the ball, moving constantly to get open looks from 3-point range or the mid-range. He has a lightning quick release that allows him to get shots off even when tightly guarded. Bogdanović can score off the dribble as well, using hesitation moves and stepbacks.
While not an elite athlete, Bogdanović is crafty in creating just enough space for his shot. He also possesses underrated court vision and passing ability for a wing player, allowing him to open things up for teammates when drawing heavy defensive attention.
On defense, Bogdanović plays intelligently but lacks quickness to stay with the NBA’s top perimeter scorers. He is an average on-ball defender but makes good rotations and rarely gets caught out of position.
Overall, Bogdanović’s value lies heavily on the offensive end. His size, shooting stroke and scoring instincts make him a constant mismatch against opposing teams. When Bogdanović heats up from deep, he can single-handedly destroy deficits and change the course of games.
Challenges and Setbacks
Injuries have been the biggest obstacle Bogdanović has faced during his NBA career. Various ailments have forced him to miss significant time in recent seasons.
After playing in all 82 games for Indiana in 2018-19, a knee injury kept Bogdanović out of the Pacers’ entire first round playoff series. Ankle issues caused him to miss over 20 games across 2020 and 2021 in Utah.
Most recently, a troublesome right calf strain hampered Bogdanović in January 2023, sidelining him for multiple games with the Pistons before ultimately leading to his trade to the Knicks. Such injuries have prevented him from maximizing his availability and on-court impact.
Bogdanović has also faced the inherent challenges of being traded multiple times. Changing teams frequently early in his NBA career made it tough to gain stability. However, he impressively produced at a high level regardless of his situation.
Ultimately, Bogdanović has proven capable of overcoming obstacles through determination and hard work. After each setback, he manages to refocus and thrive in his next opportunity. This resilience has allowed him to succeed across different teams and roles.
Personal Life and Philanthropy
Away from basketball, Bojan Bogdanovic enjoys reading, listening to music and exploring new foods – especially Mediterranean cuisine. He has two elder brothers, one of whom played professional basketball in Europe.
Bogdanović recently married his long-time girlfriend Ivana in the summer of 2022. The couple have a house together in Salt Lake City, Utah.
For giving back to the community, Bogdanović and his family formed the Bogdanović Family Foundation in 2020. It has partnered with organizations in Croatia, Bosnia and Utah dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth through sports, education and healthcare initiatives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bogdanović donated over $400,000 worth of medical equipment to hospitals in his native Croatia. This generosity reflects his continual efforts to uplift communities around him.
Legacy and Future Outlook
Already with 10 pro seasons under his belt, Bojan Bogdanovic has firmly etched his name as one of Europe’s most successful NBA exports this century. His elite outside shooting and instant offense abilities rank him among the league’s most feared offensive weapons when healthy.
In 2023, Bogdanović lands in an ideal situation to bolster his legacy by helping the New York Knicks return to contention. He will immediately step in as their first or second scoring option. Pairing Bogdanović with fellow All-Star Julius Randle and rising point guard Jalen Brunson gives New York three dynamic scorers to form a playoff-caliber core. With the Knicks currently holding the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference, his impact could prove the difference in advancing or going home early.
Beyond this season
Bogdanović is under contract for 2023-24, with a player option for 2024-25. Over these next two years in New York, he has a chance to showcase his skills on one of basketball’s biggest stages at Madison Square Garden. If Bogdanović propels the Knicks on a deep postseason run, it would mark the crowning achievement of his NBA tenure so far.
At 33 years old, Bogdanović still has enough prime years left to further enhance his credentials as one of the best European shooters and scorers the NBA has witnessed. Trading the rebuilding Pistons for the ambitious Knicks places Bogdanović back into winning situations he thrived in with past teams like Brooklyn, Indiana and Utah.
If he can stay healthy and maintain his usual scoring production levels for a couple more seasons in New York, Bogdanovic will retire as a consummate basketball professional who squeezed every ounce of talent out of his 6’7’’ frame. His legacy will be defined by a textbook example of the hard work, skill refinement and unwavering self-belief required for any player to stick in the NBA. For these reasons and many more, Bojan Bogdanović’s basketball journey deserves appreciation.
Conclusion
Bojan Bogdanovic has come a long way from his early days playing in Croatia to cement himself as one of the NBA’s most potent offensive weapons. His perseverance through injuries and trades is a testament to his work ethic and mental resolve.
Now on the New York Knicks after stints with six other NBA franchises, Bogdanović has embraced every challenge in his decade-long career. He has evolved from a raw prospect into the consummate perimeter scoring veteran.
Few players can match Bogdanović’s silky outside shooting touch and microwave scoring ability when called upon. With his crucial role lifting New York back towards contention, Bogdanović’s remarkable journey through professional basketball continues to inspire. For these reasons, he will be remembered as a uniquely skilled and resilient basketball talent.
