Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is coming off of a career year, but his best may have yet to come. This weekend, the Serbian shooting guard was hosting a camp at Despot Stefan Lazarevic Elementary School, a school he attended in his youth. In an interview with Eurohoops reporter Nikola Miloradovic, Bogdanovic answered a wide array of questions. In the process, he revealed one of his main goals for the 2024-25 season:
“To play 82 games,” he says.
Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic Singles Out Individual, Team Goals For 2024-25
“I haven’t managed to do that yet and it’s very difficult,” Bogdanovic admits. “Last season, I missed two (games). In one, I was sick… the other I was injured. I think I can make it happen this season.”
Bogdanovic, who Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic recently said could play for several more years, has played in 70 or more games in three of his seven career seasons. In 2023-24, he played in a career-high 79 contests, marking his second season missing fewer than five games. As one of the Hawks’ key veterans, his durability isn’t just a nice storyline, but an essential attribute.
Despite opting for a soft rebuild, Atlanta is still hoping to make the playoffs. To get there, they’ll need luck to be on their side, at least in the form of a clean bill of health. Looking at their histories, it’s clear that Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, and Trae Young are the veteran mainstays whose availability is above reproach.
De’Andre Hunter has failed to play at least 70 games in any season. Jalen Johnson has even managed that feat. However, he’s played in fewer than 60 games in two of his three career seasons.
So, when assessing who the Hawks’ top scorers might be next season, Bogdanovic ranks quite highly. The opportunity is there with Atlanta trading starting shooting guard Dejounte Murray. The talent is there, with Bogdanovic averaging 15.7 points per game on 39.1 percent shooting from 3 since joining the Hawks. As previously mentioned, he’ll also be available, far more often than not.
Young will be the offense’s driving force. Johnson is set to be his right hand man. Hunter can play like his second-in-command any given nights. Bogdanovic can be his most steady sidekick.
Chemistry & Camaraderie
Bogdanovic also named a specific team goal, saying: “We need to work on the team atmosphere.”
“We have a lot of young new players, so we have a chance to achieve it with players like Trae Young, Capela, Hunter… It’s a new challenge for me. In the NBA everything is possible, everything is possible everywhere, but you have to have faith and one should remain persistent.”
The 32-year-old didn’t quite say the words, but he was on the precipice of it. With that being said, a lot of the drama surrounding the Hawks is more than a media fancy.
Young has been both stubborn and aloof, though he seems to maturing with age. Like Young, it seems like Hunter or Capela is in a trade rumor every other month. Unlike Young, they don’t speak about it publicly. Nonetheless, they’ve had a palpable lack of enthusiasm these last couple of seasons.
The front office is even under fire for selecting former JL Bourg forward Zaccharie Risacher first overall.
With all of the negativity, the Hawks can’t passively build a positive team atmosphere. They have to work on their chemistry and camaraderie. They have to play for each other, not just for the results. That’s how a real team makes it through adversity.
