Although the NBA's offseason hype is often driven by free agency and blockbuster trades, such as Damian Lillard reuniting with the Portland Trail Blazers and Kevin Durant moving from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets, overseas basketball provides another way for fans to stay engaged with their favorite players in the league.
In fact, several NBA talents have argued that basketball in other countries is tougher, thereby extending the entertainment for fans of those participating. Additionally, the competitiveness is higher, and the concept of players representing their home country and succeeding fulfills their hearts.
Moreover, the upcoming EuroBasket will feature NBA superstars like Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Dončić, three of the association's arguably top five players. However, countless elite role players will also play heavy roles, and the LA Clippers' Bogdan Bogdanović is one of them.
Bogdanović will begin the EuroBasket after an excellent half-season with the Clippers, where he averaged 11.4 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds, shooting 47.4% from the field and 42.7% from beyond the arc.
However, Bogdanović's playoff statistics portray a complete 180 from how well he performed in the regular season, and this time around, in Europe, will be the perfect opportunity for him to redeem the areas in which he disappointed against the Denver Nuggets.
Bogdanović should be using the EuroBasket to demonstrate how his performances in the LA's first-round exit were a cause of nervousness
With the Atlanta Hawks, Bogdan Bogdanović was regarded as someone who needed to play for his team to win in the playoffs. Yet, with the LA Clippers, Bogdanović was best on the bench, maintaining high levels of encouragement for his teammates, as he did not have many moments of promise on the court.
In seven games, Bogdanović averaged 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, shooting 36.4% from the field and 29.2% from three. He also posted close to four fouls in under 17 minutes per game.
Furthermore, Bogdanović will be able to showcase in the EuroBasket, against current NBA and overseas stars, that his underwhelming, fourth postseason run of his career was nothing but a fluke. If he plays well, the Clippers' front office could save minutes for him next season, or they could use his success as leverage to trade him away.
Nonetheless, Bogdanović must redeem himself, and dominating before the start of training camp is the best way to do so.