Imagine your country being at war with itself where even the basic necessities had to be fought over.
Now imagine having a dream of becoming a professional basketball player in such perilous times. One such visionary not only dreamed but achieved it, and his name is Bojan Bogdanovic.
The tall, quick, versatile, and handsome Utah Jazz small forward is one of the best Croatian players to play in the NBA history.
In fact, he might even be the best, as suggested by his recent contract with the Jazz, which made him the highest-paid Croatian athlete of all time.
Bojan is probably the most famous athlete to come out of Croatia, except for its football players. However, the 30-year-old did not achieve all of his success in one day.
So, bear with me as I will guide you through the career and life of a young kid who grew up in a war-torn country of Bosnia, dreamed of being a professional, and managed to achieve it.
But first, let’s get started with some quick facts that will help my dear readers get warmed up.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Bojan Bogdanovic |
| Birth Date | 18 April 1989 |
| Birth Place | Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia |
| Nick Name | Not available |
| Religion | Not available |
| Nationality | Croatian |
| Ethnicity | Not available |
| Education | Not available |
| Horoscope | Not available |
| Father’s Name | Mario Bogdanovic |
| Mother’s Name | Not available |
| Siblings | Ivana Bogdanovic, Martina Bogdanovic |
| Age | 33 Years Old |
| Height | 6’8″ (2.03 m) |
| Weight | 103 kg (226 lbs) |
| Shoe Size | Not available |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Measurement | Not available |
| Build | Athletic |
| Married | No |
| Girlfriend | None |
| Spouse | None |
| Position | Small Forward/Shooting Guard |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Net Worth | $25 million |
| Clubs | Utah Jazz (Current); Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers (Former) |
| Jersey Number | 44 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Shoes | Nike |
| Merch | Basketball card, Jersey |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
NBA Career of Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan began his NBA career with the Miami Heat. Bogdanovic was drafted 31st overall by the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Draft.
On the same day, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and then to the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets).
Despite signing with the Nets, Bojan could not play for them until 2014. His contract with his former team in the European League, Fenerbache, did not allow him to play for another team.
As a result, the Croatian small forward had to wait three years for his NBA debut with the Brooklyn Nets. Finally, the time came during the 2014-15 season, when he appeared in 78 games for the franchise, averaging 9.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
Some of his most memorable moments with the Nets include a career-high 44-point performance against the Philadelphia 76ers in a 131-114 victory.
Another is his outstanding shooting form, which helped the Nets secure the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference in 2014-15.
Bojan had a career-high 14.2 points, 1.6 assists, and 3.6 rebounds by the end of his final season with the Nets.
During his three seasons with the Nets, the 30-year-old established himself as one of the top three and defensive players in the league.
Bojan, on the other hand, had much higher goals than simply playing in the league. Bogdanovic, in fact, has aspired to be an NBA champion since he began playing basketball. As a result, the Croatian decided to pursue his dreams in greener pastures.
Bojan was traded to the Washington Wizards, who needed an excellent shooter to complement one of the best backcourts at the time, John Wall and Bradley Beal, with mutual consent from both the player and the team.
Furthermore, Wall and Beal were All-Star players who chose to stay in Washington.
Despite their talent, the Wizards only made it to the Eastern Conference Semi-finals that season, where they were defeated by the Boston Celtics.
Also read Paige Mackenzie Career
Bojan had a big role in the team’s run to the semi-finals, filling in as the primary scorer off the bench when Wall and Beal were out.
As a result, during his half-season with the Wizards, the 30-year-old averaged 12.7 points and 3.1 rebounds. Despite the fact that the Wizards wanted Bojan to stay, he declined to sign a new contract, citing a lack of playing time as the primary reason.
As a result, the Croatian entered the free agency market, where he was offered $21 million over two years by the Indiana Pacers. As a result, Bojan signed with the Indiana-based franchise to have his best moments to date.
The Pacers made the playoffs in his first season with the team, taking the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
But that was the only bright spot for the Indiana-based team, as they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by a Cleveland Cavaliers team led by LeBron James.
Bojan, on the other hand, took a lot of positives from his defeat. For example, he scored a playoff career-high 30 points while hitting 7 of 9 3-pointers to help his team win Game 3 of the series.
During the series, he averaged 12.4 points, 1.9 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. Bogdanovic had his best postseason at the time.
The following season, Indiana made the playoffs again after finishing fifth in the regular season. The same place the team finished the previous season. As a result, many fans interpreted it as a bad omen.
Also read Elton Brand Career
Unfortunately, the team’s worst nightmare came true when they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics were a title contender that season, thanks to players such as Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Jaylen Brown, to name a few.
As a result, the overpowered Celtics bulldozed past a helpless Pacers team, sweeping the series 4-0.
Despite the fact that Indiana was swept, Bojan’s stock rose as he was the Pacers’ best player, managing his best playoff performance. The Croatian averaged 18.0 points, 2.8 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game.
As a result, teams with cap space and the means to pay the small forward competed for his services.
But it was the Utah Jazz who won the battle, signing the 30-year-old to a four-year, $73 million contract. As a result, Bojan became Croatia’s highest-paid athlete of all time.
Bogdanovic has appeared in all 60 games for the Utah franchise, averaging 20.5 points, 2.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds at the time of writing. Because of his outstanding performances for the Jazz, the small forward was in contention to be named an All-Star, a feat that no Croatian had previously accomplished.
Bojan Bogdanovic’s height? Height, weight, and age
If you measure your height in meters, the Croatian stands at 6 feet 8 inches or 2.03 meters. Please excuse the pun! Basketball players must be tall and athletic, which Bojan possesses.
In addition, the Jazz’s small forward weighs 226 pounds (103 kg). It may appear to be excessive; however, NBA players, particularly backcourt players, require to be healthy and muscular. As a result, in my opinion, he is the ideal weight for his height.
Bojan is 33 years old at the time of writing, but that did not stop the Utah-based franchise from signing him to a four-year, $71 million contract. According to the terms of his contract, he will remain with the Jazz until the 2022-23 season.
How much money does Bojan Bogdanovic earn? Net Worth & Salary
The Croatian-born player is currently worth $25 million, the majority of which he has amassed through his playing career. Bojan has previously played for the Brooklyn Nets, the Washington Wizards, the Indiana Pacers, and the Utah Jazz. As a result, his net worth is not surprising.
Contract | Bojan Bogdanovic
Bogdanovic’s most recent contract with the Jazz pays him $73 million over four years. As a result, the tall small forward became Croatia’s highest-paid athlete of all time.
According to his contract, Bojan will earn $17 million for the 2019-20 season, making him the third-highest paid player in the Utah Jazz organization.
However, his pay will rise gradually over the next few years. Bogdanovic will earn $19.5 million in the final year of his current contract.
The Croatian previously earned a reported $21 million over two years with the Indiana Pacers. As a result, he was the Pacers’ fourth highest-paid player.
Bojan has earned nearly $49 million during his career. However, there is a catch; basketball players in the United States must pay nearly half of their earnings in taxes. As a result, the highest-paid Croatian athlete’s net worth is less than you might think.
Bojan Bogdanovic | Lifestyle & Family
Bojan Bogdanovic was born to Mario Bogdanovic, a former professional basketball player in Croatia. However, nothing is known about his mother. Bogdanovic also has two younger sisters, Martina and Ivana Bogdanovic.
The 30-year-old is not currently in a relationship. In fact, Bojan’s personal life is shrouded in mystery because he does not like talking about it publicly.
However, according to reports, Bogdanovic has previously been in a relationship. However, the specifics of the relationship are kept private.
According to his social media posts, the Croatian appears to be a big fan of adventure sports like shooting and hiking. Furthermore, the 30-year-old is a huge football fan who follows leagues in England, Spain, and his native Croatia.
Bogdanovic was present at the 2018 World Cup to support his beloved Croatia, who reached the World Cup final.
In addition, the Jazz small forward enjoys spending his free time with his friends and family. To emphasize, Bogdanovic frequently travels with his sisters and posts about their adventures and stories on his various social media accounts.
Bojan Bogdanovic | Social Media Presence
Instagram: 115,000 followers
Twitter: 18,000 followers
Facebook: 70,000 followers
Bojan Bogdanovic | FAQs
Who are Bojan Bogdanovic’s agent?
His agents are Jason Ranne and Darren ‘Mats’ Matsubara.
What are some of Bojan Bogdanovic’s best games?
His recent best game was against the Nuggets in the 2020-21 regular season, where he made 48 points. He also scored 34, 33, and 32 points against the Raptors, Wizards, and Clippers.
These are some of the career highs he has recorded this season. Furthermore, while playing for the Nets, he scored 44 points against the 76ers.
What is Bojan Bogdanovic’s defense rating in the 2020-21 season?
This season, the basketballer’s defense rating is 111.7.
Is Bojan Bogdanovic and Bogdan Bogdanovic related?
No, the two are not related as Bojan is Croatoan while Bogdan is Serbian. Nonetheless, their surnames are identical, and both are well-established NBA players.
What is Bogdan Bogdanovic’s vertical?
The professional athlete has recorded a 36-inch vertical.
What is the correct pronunciation of Bojan Bogdanovic?
His name is pronounced as bow·juhnbog·da·nuh·vich.
You may also like: Jayson Tatum