Bogdan Bogdanovic credits his EuroLeague experience with Partizan and Fenerbahce for shaping his mental toughness, allowing him to handle NBA pressure with ease: "If you don't win a game [there], you can't go out in the city."
European players are built differently, shaped by the pressure they face from a young age. Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is no exception, and he credits his ability to handle NBA pressure to his early years in European basketball.
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bogdan Bogdanovic
MIN: 25.7
PTS: 11.2 (47.17%)
REB: 3
As: 2.55
ST: 0.75
BL: 0.23
TO: 1.55
GM: 40
During Tuesday night's 132-119 win over the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, Bogdanovic delivered a flawless performance, scoring 20 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting while adding four rebounds and seven assists.
After the game, he reflected on his professional roots, which trace back to Partizan, Fenerbahce, and the EuroLeague.
"I feel like it comes with experience. Who knows me, I have played big games since I was 18 in Partizan, where I started, and then in Fenerbahce. If you don't win a game [there], you can't go out in the city," the 32-year-old said via Joey Linn of Sports Illustrated.
"You cannot have a normal dinner. You can't have fun," the Serbian player added. "So, I think it comes from there. That type of pressure, and I don't feel it anymore. Now, I'm just reading the game."
Credit AFP – Scanpix
Bogdanovic was traded from Atlanta to LA before the Feb. 6 deadline and has been averaging 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists over 17 games with his new team.
Despite being far from Europe, he remains closely connected to the EuroLeague and his former clubs. Recently, he predicted that both Greek powerhouses -- Panathinaikos and Olympiacos -- along with Partizan and Fenerbahce, will reach the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four.
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