Bogdan Bogdanovic’s injury shatters Serbia’s EuroBasket hopes

Aug 31, 2025 1:47 PM

What a difference a single day can make. On Saturday evening, Serbia were celebrating, their spirits high after Nikola Jokic put on a masterclass in Riga with 39 points against hosts Latvia.

It felt like a statement win, a reminder of Serbia’s strength and resilience. But by Sunday morning, joy gave way to heartbreak as devastating news arrived.

The Serbian Basketball Federation issued a press release that sent shockwaves through the team and its fans: Bogdan Bogdanovic, the captain and cornerstone of the national side, would not return to action in FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

“Bogdan Bogdanovic will not be playing for the rest of the FIBA EuroBasket after suffering an injury to his hamstring in the game against Portugal on Game Day 2 in the group phase,” read the official statement.

“Bogdanovic has been diagnosed with a hamstring muscle tear which will keep him out of the rest of the championship. In agreement with Bogdan and his club, the Los Angeles Clippers, the captain will spend the next period going through intensive therapies in the United States to recover as fast as possible.”

The Federation added that Stefan Jovic will now wear the captain’s armband for the remainder of the tournament. Serbia’s next test comes against Czechia on Monday at 21:15 local time, 20:15 CET.

“The Serbian National Federation wishes its captain a fast recovery,” the statement concluded.

The injury itself came suddenly, a cruel twist of fate. Late in the first half against Portugal, Bogdanovic pulled up while sprinting on a fast break.

He clutched his hamstring immediately, signaling trouble, and did not return for the second half. The sight was enough to silence Serbian fans who knew just how central he has been to their national program.

Since his EuroBasket debut in 2013, Bogdanovic has been the heartbeat of Serbia, carrying them through countless international battles.

He guided the team to the 2017 EuroBasket Final, collected silver medals at the World Cups in 2014 and 2019, and played an integral part in Serbia’s Olympic success, winning silver in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and bronze in Paris just last year.

His consistency and leadership have defined more than a decade of Serbian basketball.

At 33, his numbers still speak volumes about his importance. In Paris 2024, he averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists across six Olympic games.

A year earlier at the FIBA World Cup, he put up 19.1 points per game, proving he remains a go-to scorer even on basketball’s biggest stage. Perhaps his finest individual tournament came in 2019, when he averaged 22.9 points at the World Cup.

Now, Serbia must march forward without their captain, leaning heavily on Jokic and the supporting cast to keep their EuroBasket dream alive.

Bogdanovic’s absence creates a void far larger than points or assists – it is the absence of his poise, his clutch shooting, and his ability to raise Serbia’s level when it matters most.

For Bogdan, another chapter of resilience begins. The hope is that his recovery goes smoothly, allowing him to add to an already legendary career in Serbian colors.