If you are a fan of the NBA, you might have heard of two players with very similar names: Bojan Bogdanovic and Bogdan Bogdanovic. They both play as shooting guards and have been making waves in the league with their impressive performances. But are they brothers? Are they even related at all? The answer might surprise you.
Contents
Bojan Bogdanovic: The Croatian Sniper
Bojan Bogdanovic was born on April 18, 1989, in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was then part of Yugoslavia. His father, Mario Bogdanovic, was a professional basketball player in Croatia, and his mother’s identity is unknown. He has two younger sisters, Ivana and Martina. He started his basketball career in 2004 with Zrinjski Mostar, his hometown club. In 2005, he signed a five-year deal with Real Madrid, but was loaned back to Zrinjski Mostar and then to other teams in Spain. In 2009, he joined Cibona Zagreb, where he won the Croatian League and Cup titles. He also represented the Croatian national team at various levels.
In 2011, he was drafted by the Miami Heat with the 31st overall pick, but his rights were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and then to the New Jersey Nets (later Brooklyn Nets) on draft night. However, he did not join the NBA right away. Instead, he signed a multi-year deal with Fenerbahce Ulker in Turkey, where he won the Turkish League, Cup, and Supercup titles. He also made the All-EuroLeague First Team and the All-EuroBasket Team in 2013.
He finally made his NBA debut in 2014 with the Brooklyn Nets, where he played for three seasons. He averaged 11.2 points per game and shot 36.6% from the three-point range. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2015. In 2017, he was traded to the Washington Wizards, where he played for half a season before signing with the Indiana Pacers as a free agent. He spent two seasons with the Pacers, where he improved his scoring to 18 points per game and his three-point shooting to 42.5%. In 2019, he signed a four-year, $73 million contract with the Utah Jazz, making him the highest-paid Croatian athlete ever. He is currently averaging 21.6 points per game and shooting 48.8% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc.
Bojan Bogdanovic is known for his sharpshooting skills and his clutch performances. He has made several game-winning shots in his career, including a buzzer-beater against the Houston Rockets in 2020 and a three-pointer against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. He is also a loyal and passionate player who plays with a lot of heart and energy.
Bogdan Bogdanovic: The Serbian Star
Bogdan Bogdanovic was born on August 18, 1992, in Belgrade, Serbia, which was also part of Yugoslavia at that time. His father, Dragan Bogdanovic, was a basketball coach and his mother, Koviljka Bogdanovic, was a teacher. He has a younger sister named Bojana. His family originated from Pluzine in Montenegro. He started playing basketball with SKK Zvezdara, a club in Belgrade. In 2008, he moved to Zitko Basket (later Alimenti Basket), another club in Belgrade. He played for their junior team until 2010 when he joined FMP’s junior team for the Nike International Junior Tournament in Paris.
In 2010, he signed his first professional contract with Partizan Belgrade, one of the most successful clubs in Serbia and Europe. He played for Partizan for four seasons, winning four Serbian League titles, two Adriatic League titles, and two Serbian Cup titles. He also won two EuroLeague Rising Star awards in 2014 and 2015. He also represented the Serbian national team at various levels.
In 2014, he was drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 27th overall pick, but his rights were traded to the Sacramento Kings during the 2016 draft. However, he did not join the NBA right away either. Instead, he signed a three-year deal with Fenerbahce Istanbul in Turkey, where he reunited with his former coach Zeljko Obradovic. He won the EuroLeague title in 2017 and made the All-EuroLeague First Team that year. He also won two Turkish League titles, one Turkish Cup title, and one Turkish President’s Cup title.
He finally made his NBA debut in 2017 with the Sacramento Kings, where he played for three seasons. He averaged 13.5 points per game and shot 37.4% from the three-point range. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018 and won the Rising Stars Challenge MVP that year. In 2020, he signed a four-year, $72 million offer sheet with the Atlanta Hawks, which the Kings did not match. He is currently averaging 14 points per game and shooting 44.7% from the field and 38.9% from beyond the arc.
Bogdan Bogdanovic is known for his versatility and creativity on the court. He can play as a point guard or a shooting guard and can create his own shot or set up his teammates. He is also a reliable defender and a leader on and off the court.
The Verdict: No Relation
As you can see, Bojan and Bogdan Bogdanovic are not related at all. They have different backgrounds, cultures, and families. They also have different playing styles and roles on their teams. The only thing they have in common is their love for basketball and their similar names.
According to Metro League, their names are not uncommon in the Balkans, where they come from. Bogdan means “God-given” in Slavic languages, and Bogdanovic means “son of Bogdan”. Bojan is a diminutive form of Bogdan, so Bojan Bogdanovic means “little son of Bogdan”. There are many people with these names in the region, so it is not surprising that there are two NBA players with them.
So, next time you watch a game featuring Bojan or Bogdan Bogdanovic, don’t get confused by their names. They are not brothers, cousins, or even distant relatives. They are just two talented basketball players who happen to share a common name.
