By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Shortly following longtime friend Nikola Jokic, fellow Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic is set to return from injury, but for the Los Angeles Clippers, and in a much different situation compared to the Joker.
The 33-year-old guard has been medically cleared to play on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns in Mortgage Matchup Center to close a three-game road trip in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season. His resurgence meets the team coached by Tyronn Lue at 22-25, which ranks tenth in the Western Conference and sits at the bottom end of the Play-In zone.
Bogdanovic has spent most of the season in rehab, including the most recent setback, designated as left hamstring injury management since December. In total, he has been featured in 16 games this season and started three times. He tallied 8.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks per contest. Moving forward, his playing role is unclear.
From spells with the Atlanta Hawks between 2020 and 2025, and the Sacramento Kings from 2017 to 2020, the Belgrade native was traded to the Clippers last February. Before taking his talents to the league based in North America, he suited up for Fenerbahce from 2014 until 2017, between his selection with the 27th overall draft pick by the Phoenix Suns and being crowned Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion. Breaking out with Partizan from 2010 to 2014 marked his first professional experience.
Meanwhile, playing alongside Jokic in several major FIBA tournaments, joint efforts with the senior national team of Serbia are headlined by a silver medal in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games and a bronze in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.