Deep Roster Led Bojan Bogdanovic To Sign With Utah Jazz
Jul 13, 2019, 7:58 PM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Now that the Utah Jazz have officially signed free agent forward Bojan Bogdanovic, he is ready to get to work for the upcoming 2019-20 season.
He is coming off a career year in 2018-19, where he averaged career bests in 18 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2 assists while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 42 percent from downtown.
“Seeing Mike (Conley), Donovan (Mitchell) and Rudy (Gobert) over there and seeing them as contenders every year made my decision so easy,” Bogdanovic told KSL Sports’ Jeremiah Jensen.
He will join a team that is significantly different from last season as they have picked up veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr. from Memphis to pair with Mitchell and Gobert.
4️⃣4️⃣ & 🔟 pic.twitter.com/m71T4Rfaek
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 8, 2019
Fitting In With Jazz
Another reason why Bogdanovic decided to sign with the Jazz was the style of play and what head coach Quin Snyder has built over the last five years.
“The Jazz has always been a team that has moved the basketball pretty well,” he said. “I knew that they needed some three-point shooters, so I hope that I can keep my game at a high level. There is so many combinations that we can play, small or big, so it is going to be fun for all of us.”
Bogdanovic is one of only eight players to hit over 150 three-pointers on better than 42 percent from beyond the arc last season.
He already feels comfortable with his teammates even before his signing became official.
“It’s been great to see all of the players reach out to me when they found out I was going to be with the Jazz,” Bogdanovic said. “It just shows me how great the culture that they have built here and it’s at a high level.”
The veteran forward had to step up last year for the Indiana Pacers when Victor Oladipo suffered a season-ending injury. He averaged 21 points per game in his absence, leading the Pacers to the postseason. The Jazz roster is deeper than what the Pacers had last season.
“We have a pretty deep roster,” he mentioned. “It’s up to coach how he is going to play us, but I am here to do whatever it takes to make my team successful.”
Here they are! Now, it feels real. @mconley11 @utahjazz #TakeNote #teamiseverything pic.twitter.com/sspbTxb49f
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 8, 2019
15 Years Of Pro Basketball
The 30-year-old Bogdanovic has played professional basketball for half of his life, beginning when he was 15 years old.
“It made me grow up so quickly,” Bogdanovic said. “There is a lot of improvement to be made in my game and I am going to work on that this summer.”
The Croatian’s professional career began in Europe where he gained vast experience with multiple teams, including Zrinjski Mostar (2004-05), Real Madrid (2005-09), Murcia (2008-09), Cibona Zagreb (2009-11) and Fenerbahce Ulker (2011-14).
He garnered multiple accolades during his time overseas, earning a Croatian League All-Star nod and Championship (2010), Turkish League All-Star selection and Turkish Cup win (2013), also earning a Turkish Supercup victory and Turkish League championship (2014).
