While Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has already clarified that he didn’t intend to disrespect Carmelo Anthony during the Paris Olympics, the former NBA star wanted to set the record clear as well.
In the latest airing of 7PM in Brooklyn, Anthony was asked about Bogdanovic using his three to the dome celebration. His response?
“That’s my son right there,” Anthony laughs.
“That was probably one of the best games I’ve ever been to.”
Melo reveals how it really went down at the USA vs Serbia matchup and his moment with Bogdan Bogdanović 👀
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“It was real time, real s*** going on,” he explains.
“I’m not even saying nothing to Bogi. As he’s playing, he makes a shot. ‘Oh, I like that Bogi. I see you.’ I’m talking that s*** to ‘em.”
“So, I appreciate everybody taking my side, but the real s*** was he was showing love. I really wanted to cheer (when) he knocked that 3 down like that,” Anthony admits.
“I really wanted to be like, ‘Yo, d*** that was crazy.’ I really wanted to point at him. That was probably was one of the greatest games I’ve ever been to. The greatest.”
“I’m like, ‘I can’t show no emotion. Just accept what comes with it.’”
Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic Defended By Carmelo Anthony
The way that NBA fans rallied around Anthony after believing he was being disrespected shows how much he means to the game.
A 10-time All-Star who was named as one of the NBA’s Greatest 75 Players in 2021, his cult following can be partially attributed to the passion of New York Knicks fans. However, his talent, charisma, and authenticity drew in fans from every corner of the world. In fact, last year, FIBA named Anthony as one of their global ambassadors during the World Cup.
This isn’t just because he excelled in the league though. Anthony is widely considered to be one of Team USA’s most impactful players of all-time. A three-time Olympic gold medalist, Anthony was USA Basketball’s most decorated male player until Kevin Durant won his fourth gold medal this summer.
All of that is to say, Bogdanovic using Anthony’s celebration against Team USA wasn’t a shrewd move. While his intent was benign, the timing was poor. Still, the fire and flair that he displayed during the Olympics may have gained him some fans.
Olympovic
In Paris, Bogdanovic averaged 18.3 points and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from 3.
His best performance came against South Sudan in the Group Phase, as he scored 30 points and went 6-9 from 3. Serbia’s game against Team USA was a tale of two halves, Bogdanovic finishing with 20 points on 30.0 percent shooting from 3. However, he wrapped up the Olympics nicely, helping Serbia secure a bronze medal with his play against Germany. In just 25 minutes, he notched 16 points while going 3-4 from 3.
Now, as the soon-to-be 32-year-old prepares for his eighth NBA season, he’ll potentially have his largest role since coming stateside.
