Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has a solid reputation in the NBA. In Serbia, he’s all but legendary. The captain of the Serbian national team, Bogdanovic was named the best Serbian player over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in 2023.
Raptors’ Darko Rajakovic Believes Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic Can Play Until Almost 40
Naturally, Bogdanovic’s career was among the myriad topics discussed as Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic sat down with the Luka i Kuzma podcast. It isn’t rare for coaches to gloat about opposing players, but Rajakovic positively gushed about his countryman.
“His commitment to basketball is really incredible. He pays a lot of attention to his diet and takes very good care of his body. He is getting better physically every season,” the Čačak native says (h/t Eurohoops).
“I think he can play in the NBA for another six to seven years without any problems,” Rajakovic continues.
“I have a hard time preparing for the matches we will play against him. He always has a smile on his face, he enjoys playing basketball very much. I am his fan.”
If Rajakovic is right, Bogdanovic would be playing until he was 38 or 39 years old. That’s difficult to fathom with only eight active players in that age range.
Is It Realistic?
As a seven-year NBA veteran, Bogdanovic might seem like he has a bit less wear and tear on his body.
However, he spent his first five seasons in the EuroLeague after being drafted, playing at least 27.5 minutes per game in four of them. So, he’s not only had a 12-year professional career, he’s been heavily involved in his team’s gameplan. Furthermore, he’s taken part in three EuroBasket Tournaments, three FIBA World Cups, and two Olympics. Those eight shortened offseasons have only weathered him even more.
It isn’t impossible though. Bogdanovic’s scoring ability, particularly from deep, will help him stay in the league. A career 38.4 percent 3-point shooter on 6.5 attempts per game, all he has to do is keep shooting. As everybody knows, 3-point threats are quite valuable. That’s long been the case and it doesn’t look like it’ll change anytime soon.
Does It Matter For The Hawks?
For the Hawks, all that may matter is that Bogdanovic can finish out his contract while playing at a high level. Signed through 2026-27 with a team option in the final season, these years coincide with the most pivotal of the Trae Young era. The nearly 26-year-old is also signed through 2026-27, but his patience is waning. If Atlanta doesn’t look like they’ll be able to challenge for a championship before his contract expires, he may even request a trade.
However, if the Hawks develop into title contenders, Bogdanovic’s longevity could prove crucial.
Young’s ball-handling, shot-creation, and playmaking make his best backcourt mate a guard who can thrive catch-and-shoot situations. Bogdanovic is one such player. Long-term, the Hawks’ plan may be for 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to be the team’s starting shooting guard. Nonetheless, Bogdanovic is the better player and thus option until Risacher proves otherwise.
