Bogdan Bogdanovic can still play and excel in the NBA for at least another six to seven years, says Toronto Raptors head coach and fellow Serbian Darko Rajakovic.
The 32-year-old Atlanta Hawks shooting guard averaged 16.9 points a game last season, but despite a rise in points, he has seen his shooting and three-point percentage drop.
Boasting a field goal percentage of 44.7% in 2022-23, the Serbian international shot 42.8% last season, while his three-point accuracy has gone from a respectable 40.6% to 37.4%.
Despite the fall in averages, Bogdanovic was a massive factor in Serbia’s road to the bronze medal at the recent Olympic Games in Paris, posting 18 points a contest.
This campaign will mark the seventh year of Bogdanovic playing in the NBA since joining the Sacramento Kings in 2017 from Fenerbahce, where he won the EuroLeague title in his final season in Europe.
It leaves no doubt in Rajakovic’s mind that Bogdanovic can still do a job for the Hawks and any NBA team moving forward.
“His commitment to basketball is really incredible,” Rajakovic said on the Luka i Kuzma podcast.
“He pays a lot of attention to his diet and takes very good care of his body. He is getting better physically every season.
“I think he can play in the NBA for another six, seven years without any problems. 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.”
Rajakovic led the Raptors last season to a 25-57 record in the Eastern Conference, failing to make the postseason for the third time in five years since winning the NBA championship in 2019.
Before his appointment with the Raptors in 2023, Rajakovic was an assistant with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and most recently, the Memphis Grizzlies.
He was also an assistant in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.
