Hoops Habit
Fansided

Brooklyn Nets: Bojan Bogdanovic’s Preseason Finale Encouraging

By Phil Watson

Oct 19, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins (L) calls in a play as guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) looks on during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins (L) calls in a play as guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) looks on during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

On the night Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins celebrated his 62nd birthday, he turned back the clock during the Nets’ preseason finale against the Boston Celtics.

Nine players saw action in the game, a 111-105 loss to the Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, with five players dressed but not playing and six others—including starters Joe Johnson, Thaddeus Young, Brook Lopez and Jarrett Jack—chilling back in Brooklyn.

Shooting guard Bojan Bogdanovic did make the trip and played … a lot. In an era where it’s almost unheard of for starters to play more than 25 minutes in a preseason game, Bogdanovic logged a whopping 41 minutes Monday night, scoring a team-high 18 points while hitting 6-of-13 from the floor and 2-of-6 from deep.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: 25 Best Players To Play For The Nets

But the production and durability were both positive signs for Bogdanovic, who hasn’t looked like the same player who earned second-team All-Rookie honors after making his way to the NBA after signing a three-year deal with Turkish power Fenerbahce after he was drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the NBA Draft in 2011.

Prior to Monday, Bogdanovic had played in three of Brooklyn’s first five preseason contests and had shot just 5-for-20 (25 percent) from the floor and 2-for-11 (18.2 percent) from deep while logging 63 minutes.

The 26-year-0old spent his summer playing for Croatia at Eurobasket 2015 despite a sprained ankle before the competition began.

The only game he missed was because of a concussion and he wound up playing 27.4 minutes a game in five games for the Croatian national squad, averaging 10.8 points and 3.4 rebounds on .315/.167/.800 shooting.

More from Brooklyn Nets

Croatia was 3-2 in group play, but was routed by the Czech Republic in the round of 16.

Bogdanovic finished last season on a roll, earning Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors in April after averaging 14.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 28.4 minutes per game on .526/.488/.833 shooting.

He wound up starting the final five games of Brooklyn’s six-game loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs, averaging 11.4 points per game in that role.

For the season, he put up nine points and 2.7 rebounds per game, averaging 23.8 minutes a game and shooting .453/.355/.821.

Hollins says the combination of the ankle injury and the wear and tear of not having a significant offseason break has Bogdanovic lagging a bit.

“He’s just got to keep working,” Hollins told the New York Post on Sunday. “That’s all you can do. What does he have to improve? I think one, he’s got to get his foot better and he’s also got to get his conditioning better.

“I think he’s a little tired from playing all summer and then he hurt his ankle, which has been bothering him all through preseason. He’s got to get healthy. That’s huge.”

So of course, then, it makes sense for Hollins to play a tired, injured guy 41 minutes in a preseason game because … yeah, I got nothin’.

Bogdanovic isn’t making excuses.

“It’s almost OK,” Bogdanovic said of the ankle injury. “It’s going to take a couple more days, but I feel so much better. … I can play. There’s no problem anymore.”

Wayne Ellington has had a solid preseason for the Nets, putting up 16 points in each of Brooklyn’s first two preseason contests against Fenerbahce and the Detroit Pistons, getting 61 minutes of playing time.

Live Feed

4 Trae Young trades the Hawks should consider
4 Trae Young trades the Hawks should consider /

FanSided

  • These NBA stars might switch teams sooner rather than laterAll U Can Heat
  • The Whiteboard: Wild cards who could reshape the 2023-24 NBA seasonFanSided
  • NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons in best shape of his life for third time in 3 yearsFanSided
  • NBA rumors: Erik Spoelstra is a trojan horse, surprise suitor for JaVale McGee, Ben Simmons still loves PhillyFanSided
  • A healthy and motivated Ben Simmons can make Brooklyn Nets contenders in the EastSir Charles In Charge

    • He didn’t play Monday and tailed off markedly over his final three games, going 4-for-19 from the floor and scoring 11 points.

    Bogdanovic doesn’t care if he starts or comes off the bench. At least that’s what he says.

    “For me, it’s not a big deal if I have the minutes I have in the preseason [during the regular season],” Bogdanovic said. “It doesn’t matter if I am going to come off the bench or if I am going to be a starter.”

    With the Nets in a semi-rebuilding mode, having choked down the remainder of Deron Williams’ contract and counting the days until Iso Joe Johnson’s expires, they were counting on a solid step forward from Bogdanovic this season.

    Showing he can go 41 minutes in a meaningless game is at least a place to start.

    Next: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

    More from Hoops Habit

    Home/Brooklyn Nets