Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks guard and captain of Serbian national team spoke exclusively to Basketball Sphere.
Achieving a top-tier career in any sport is extremely difficult. If we were to convert it into percentages, many would be astonished. Achieving a fantastic career with continuous growth and becoming the idol of a generation, to the point where people express a desire to pursue our favorite sport because of a particular player – that is akin to a miracle.
We all know how rare it is to hear the names of those who you hear during the famous countdown “3, 2, 1…” and then shoot the ball to the basket. Whether it’s in a school gym, on an empty court in the neighborhood, or at a high level. The names of such individuals are rare, and Bogdan Bogdanovic has managed to become just that. The captain of the Serbian national team – that alone sounds impressive.
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Numbers tell one story, feelings tell another
The Serbian guard had an impressive season with the Atlanta Hawks. His team missed out on the playoffs after being eliminated in the play-in. Bogdan Bogdanovic averaged 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and three assists per game. He shot 43% from the field, while his specialty – the three-point shot – was at a solid 38%.
In that segment, he set a franchise record by making 234 three-pointers in the regular season. Additionally, his streak of 89 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer ranks second in Atlanta Hawks’ history. Kyle Korver holds the first place with 127, so another franchise record could soon be broken.
“I don’t want to say that this was my best season in the NBA. I didn’t feel that way. Looking at the complete picture, the numbers may show that, but personally, at least for now, my best performance was in the season when we reached the Eastern Conference Finals and lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. That was my first season with the Atlanta Hawks, although I played well towards the end of the previous year, but I was injured for a long time.
This year, I’m genuinely satisfied because my only goal was to stay healthy. I wanted to play as many games as possible. When I looked at how many games I missed in previous years, I set myself the task of taking care of my body and being able to play every night. I can be satisfied with that, but of course, we didn’t meet expectations as a team. For me personally, it was a decent season, but I know I can do much better individually,” said Bogdan Bogdanovic at the beginning of the conversation.
Players today are more talented than ever before
The adjustment period to the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks player may have been the toughest part of the whole process. Known as a hard worker, he managed to compensate for his weaknesses and further highlight his strengths. Additionally, his basketball idol Kobe Bryant was the epitome of a ‘basketball nerd,’ a trait we can similarly attribute to Bogdan Bogdanovic, as he loves to stay informed:
“I would also say that I continue to adapt to the game. The game is getting faster, there are a lot more athletes coming into the NBA. I’ve recently listened to some interviews and statements. There’s talk about how today’s players couldn’t play in the ’90s and so on, but my view is that today’s players are much more talented than any players from the past.
Simply put, basketball is progressing, and that has to be accepted. The game is played at this speed, this is a different era, and it’s not for comparison. It’s like playing a different sport. In conversations with some coaches, I personally have made significant changes to my shot, both in speed and in on-court decisions, along with a new style of play. You do whatever it takes to adapt to that speed.”
What does the toughest week in the NBA look like?
We often hear about how European basketball is increasingly adopting the NBA rhythm. However, NBA is the best league in the world due to a calendar that is perfected, at least on paper. Players and their bodies are the ones who suffer the most.
When Bogdan Bogdanovic described to us what those seven days look like and what follows afterward, it’s entirely legitimate when individuals say that they sometimes forget which city they’re in, or even the number of their hotel room.
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“The most games are played before the All-Star break. That’s when the schedule is the busiest, and a month before that, you play the most games. The toughest week is when the schedule has you playing games on Monday and Tuesday, with travel in between. Then you go home for another game, followed by a mini-tour for two back-to-back games. That adds up to five games in just seven days.
If you’re prepared during that period, it’s not too hard to endure and get through it. But it’s the week after, for the next two or three games, where all that accumulated fatigue hits the body. That was the toughest adaptation for me, and I think generally everyone struggles with it. The body changes over the years, so you have to dedicate yourself to it as much as possible.”
The NBA and basketball in Europe are two different sports
We could hear more about coaching philosophies and the problem of a dense schedule not only from players but also from coaches and coaching staff, especially through the perspective of candidate for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. Bogdan Bogdanovic didn’t win that award, he finished fifth in the voting, but it’s evident that his role as the leader of the popular “second unit” suits him well:
“You don’t have time to practice because you’re constantly traveling. Coaches also become tired over time, and you can’t prepare as much due to the lack of time. There are pre-planned schedules for when to practice and when not to, depending on recovery needs. All coaches have their methods and philosophies. Quin Snyder practices shooting sessions on game days and more rest days between travels. This allows us to rest and focus on our bodies.
Sometimes we come to practice, play five-on-five without contact, but it’s all based on feel and considering how many players are available. You have to think about having capable players for practice and for games. Through practice, you preserve them for the game. The NBA and basketball in Europe are two different sports because of the preparation methods. We prepare differently for all those games, and that largely dictates changes in all other aspects,” explained Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Playing for the national team
The Serbian player representing the Atlanta Hawks had another very good season after success with the national team and a silver medal at the World Cup. However, this syndrome doesn’t only apply to him but to several individuals who spend their summer representing their country and then continue in great form in the upcoming season.
“I’m glad to hear that people recognize that, and I also feel good about such conclusions. I can formulate it as playing for the national team is a gladiatorial sporting moment, I’m constantly present, and I’m not injured. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay healthy and successful enough to remain motivated, as part of teams of different generations.
There has been much more success than failure, and I’m happy about that because it endures. As I said before the World Cup, I’m happy to be in the national team. To me, it’s one of the most beautiful places to play.”
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Emotional rollercoaster
Since stepping onto the big stage, Bogdan Bogdanovic has always been an emotionally driven player. Whether it’s through cheering himself and teammates on when making shots or even when things don’t go according to plan. There have been countless such situations in his career, from winning titles with Partizan and the tragedy known as “Nolan Smith,” to climbing to the top of the European continent with Fenerbahce, to game-winning shots in the NBA against his childhood favorite team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
The late Kobe Bryant was Bogdan Bogdanovic’s idol in his youth, and although they never directly faced off, Bogdan knew how to shine against the franchise from the “City of Angels.” And even if they didn’t compete directly, it’s a consolation that “Black Mamba” himself awarded him the trophy for the top scorer of the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
All of the above cannot be compared to his time with the Serbian national team, with which he has won four silver medals so far – once at Olympic Games, twice at the World Cup and once at the Eurobasket. The tears shed after the defeat against the Slovenian national team still send chills down the spine, as does the famous phrase from Serbian TV commentator Darko Plavsic: “Run into history, Bogdan.” When asked if he had to single out something, the captain of the Serbian national team replied with a smile:
“To be honest, I always remember just the last one (laughs). There have been so many games and everything, from success to failure. I’ll probably remember all of it individually at the end of the road, when my career is over.”
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The national team as the “holy grail”
Representing your country in a major competition is a special motivation for every athlete on the planet. Being the captain of a basketball team that is considered one of the most important in the history books worldwide is an especially difficult level to achieve. Bogdan Bogdanovic was exactly that on the last major competition, the “Leader of Horde.” In every sense of the word:
“I don’t know where to begin (laughs). It wasn’t my dream to be the captain of the national team, I dreamed of being part of that team. It’s the best company for me. That’s the reason why we’re all here, one of the main reasons for something like this. Whether captain or not, it’s all the same to me personally. We’ve never been separated.
It’s nice, an honor and a privilege, everything remains the same. I’m glad that my teammates still treat me as a player, without any special treatment as a captain. I don’t change, neither do they, and I feel good in that company where my teammates don’t see me any differently,” – said the captain of the “Eagles.”
“The Professor”
Then he reflected on Nemanja Bjelica, as a special teammate and friend with whom he spent a lot of time on the court. Whether in the national team, Fenerbahce, or the Sacramento Kings, it’s always great to learn from the “Professor,” whom Bogdan Bogdanovic highly respects:
“I’m glad I was part of his career in many ways. In various clubs and in the national team. We hang out off the court too, he has had a great career behind him. It’s only with time passing that we’ll see his great success and what he sacrificed for that success and career. He had an incredible career, and I already see that he’s continuing in the same rhythm, and I wish him all the best in all his new challenges.
That’s the most beautiful thing that comes through basketball. When you’re abroad, through sports, you establish some healthy friendships. We all hang out and try to enjoy those moments. We spend time together as much as our obligations allow, but it’s certainly nice to meet and play against someone you know on the court almost every game.”
We mentioned Bogdan Bogdanovic’s game-winning three-pointer against the Los Angeles Lakers earlier, and it was Bjelica who set him up:
“Bjelica is looking, looking, looking… Bogdanovic, three seconds, Bogi for the win… BOGDAN BOGDANOVIC”
The Olympic Games as the pinnacle of the sports pyramid in basketball
Certainly, the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris attract the most attention when it comes to basketball tournaments. Bogdan Bogdanovic will once again be available to coach Svetislav Pesic, and in an interview for Basketball Sphere, he explained how difficult the path to an event like the Olympic Games actually is:
“For our national team, there are first qualifications for the Eurobasket. By participating there, you secure a spot in the World Cup. Sometimes there are even additional qualifications for the World Cup. Through the World Cup, you’re looking for a place at the Olympic Games.
If you haven’t succeeded in that, there’s also a qualifying tournament. Only then do the Olympic Games come as the pinnacle of the sports pyramid in basketball. We go to compete against the best, and absolutely everyone should enjoy that success.”
The Serbian guard is still across the pond and is preparing for the biggest sporting event. Known as a hard worker, he has once again justified that reputation:
“I’m practicing constantly. For me, the most important thing is to have a continuous work routine. Right now, I’m in the gym, and next week I’ll be stepping onto the court. I’m starting to prepare more seriously. I wish all my teammates good health and success for the rest of the season. I sincerely hope that we’ll all be present at the gathering and ready to show our best.”
MVP – Nikola Jokic
After so many years in the NBA, the competition among individuals is so tough that it’s hard to single out anyone’s name. This time, for Atlanta Hawks guard, we had one tough question that wasn’t actually that difficult in the end. When it comes to the team that is the toughest opponent, as well as one player, Bogdan Bogdanovic had no doubt:
“The Denver Nuggets suit me the least (laughs). I think we’ve won the fewest games against them of all the teams in the NBA since I’ve been with the Atlanta Hawks. It was a bit different when I played for the Sacramento Kings. Obviously, the MVP Jokara (note: “feel free to write Jokara, that’s how we call him”) is a better player than Nikola Jokic. I have to admit that when it’s true. Everyone has their buddies (laughs).”
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The coach as a well-known figure
Dusko Vujosevic, Zeljko Obradovic, Aleksandar Djordjevic, Svetislav Pesic – a quartet that has coached Bogdan Bogdanovic at various points in his career. He learned something from each of them, and he demonstrates that on the court. At the Atlanta Hawks, he is coached by Quin Snyder, and interestingly, the American had the chance to become acquainted with the potential of the Serbian guard over a decade ago on the court of the famous “Pionir” arena:
“That was our third topic of conversation. He talked to me about his experience with CSKA Moscow, which was his first in Europe. His first EuroLeague away game was in Belgrade. Everyone told him about the fans and the atmosphere. He went out early to watch the whole warm-up, and an hour and a half before the game, the arena was full. He saw me shooting and remembered me because of the warm-up.”
I argued with all the coaches at that normal level
At the end of the season, Bogdanovic and Snyder had a conversation on the bench that went viral, but we got an explanation about what it was all about:
“And ten years later, he becomes my coach in the NBA. Unbelievable. We often have discussions about basketball, but it’s at a healthy level. And what happened is normal, for me, for him, and for the rest of the team. Maybe it looks bad in the media, but every day we’re all here together, it’s like a family. After each such situation, there’s an apology and we move on. Moments where two competitors clash. I’ve argued with all the coaches at that normal level (laughs).”
Basketball in Europe
The life of an NBA player doesn’t leave enough time to follow absolutely everything happening in Europe, but the Serbian guard revealed whom he followed the most, along with an interesting comment on Vanja Marinkovic’s exceptional season, who will change teams after five years with Baskonia:
“This season, I followed the EuroLeague the least since I’ve been in the United States. Compared to the previous season, I had the most practice sessions and obligations during game times.
If I had to pick something, I watched Vanja Marinkovic and Baskonia the most. We practiced together this summer, so I learned something from him, and it seems he learned something from me too (laughs). I managed to follow Partizan a bit, as well as a few Fenerbahce games, but honestly, I watched very few games.”
ABA League
For the third time in a row, Crvena Zvezda and Partizan are competing for the trophy in the ABA League. It is well known what kind of mark Bogdan Bogdanovic left as a player of the black and white team, whose fans “remember everything well.” He was a member of perhaps the most talented generation in Partizan recent history when he lifted the trophy for the champion of the ABA League by defeating Crvena Zvezda in the final during the 2012/2013 season.
“Let everything be sportsmanlike. Everyone roots for their team, but we should stick to the boundaries of sportsmanship, rules, and fair play,” said Bogdan Bogdanovic at the end of the interview for Basketball Sphere.
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