Bogdan Bogdanovic Shows Out at FIBA World Cup

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia) poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twenty-seven overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

In this year’s past draft, the Phoenix Suns had a total of 4 draft picks (3 of which were 1st round picks). As a result, the Suns had flexibility as to who they would take a chance on as their 2014 rookie class.

The Suns went ahead and drafted T.J. Warren out of North Carolina State and Tyler Ennis out of Syracuse as their top 2 selections in the draft. Both of which, could make an impact early in their rookie campaign. Then, the Suns chose Bogdan Bogdanovic as their final 1st round selection.

While Warren and Ennis could contribute early, Bogdanovic will not…as least as a Phoenix Sun.

Bogdanovic is under contract with Fenerbahce in the Turkish league and it seems like the Suns will not try to buy him out for at least a year or two. Meanwhile, though, Bogdanovic played for his native country in Serbia during the FIBA World Cup and was a main contributor for their squad.

Bogdanovic is a tall shooting guard listed at 6’6” who scored 12 points per game and shot 35 percent from the 3-point line. Not too bad for a 22-year old playing on an, at best, mediocre Serbian squad.

Apparently, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, the Phoenix Suns’ GM, Ryan McDonough, thinks similarly:

"“He was very efficient and got his spots and got the shots he wants to shoot,” said Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough, who attended the game in Madrid. “He scored on spot-up shots, off the dribble and going to the basket. I’m impressed with his playmaking. He’s got long arms. He’s strong and he has a feel for the game.“He can make a lot of plays other guys can’t make.”"

It seems like McDonough knew exactly what he was getting after he drafted Bogdanovic in this year’s draft. While the World Cup is now over, we will not see Bogdanovic on the grand stage for a while now, but, he will still earn good experience as his continues playing for the Turkish league.

Competition over there is not great at all so it will be much harder to identify the quality of play by Bogdanovic as he continues playing but, in just a few short years, Bogdanovic will be at the NBA level where we can really see he skill set against the world’s greatest basketball players. For now, though, the Suns will have to make due without him which is something the Suns are more than capable of doing in 2014.