Bogdan Bogdanovic is desperate to win after spending the last three seasons with the Sacramento Kings.
ATLANTA (AP) – Bogdan Bogdanovic is sick of losing.
He believes the Atlanta Hawks can make him a winner.
“This is a perfect group for success,” said Bogdanovic on Wednesday. “I can only see a bright future here.”
The sharp-shooting security guard was the price of Atlanta’s strong free agent class, which included Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo, and Kris Dunn.
You are joining one of the most fascinating teams in the league, a franchise that has gone through a complete overhaul in the last three seasons but now feels like it is poised for great success.
Gallinari was delighted when the Hawks made a big pitch for him and even accepted an expected role after beginning most of his career.
“The young people we have are very, very good,” said Gallinari, who signed a three-year contract for $ 61 million. “If I hadn’t believed in these young people, I wouldn’t have chosen the ATL. I really believe in the group we have. Since playing basketball, I’ve been focusing on winning. Whatever the coach wants and needs from me for me to win, I’ll do that. “
Bogdanovic is desperate to win after spending the last three seasons with the Sacramento Kings, who haven’t topped 500 points or made the playoffs since 2006.
When the Kings signaled that they had no major additions planned, Bogdanovic was ready to move on. The Hawks signed a four-year $ 72 million bid sheet with the restricted free agent that Sacramento refused to fulfill.
Bogdanovic feels perfectly suited for a backcourt in Atlanta, led by the face of franchisee Point Guard Trae Young, who averaged 29.6 points and was voted All-Star Game Starter in his second season.
The Hawks are looking for someone to take some of the pressure off Young, perhaps by taking on some of the gaming duties and giving the budding superstar easier opportunities. Likewise, a 3-point weapon like Bogdanovic Young should offer a lot more options.
“We’ll be a perfect match, especially offensively,” said Bogdanovic, who averaged the best 15.1 points per game last season and scored 37% from a distance. “He’s an incredible Sagittarius and I am an incredible Sagittarius. We can both handle the ball. He’s a little better at getting the ball into the paint which will give us a lot of open shots.
“I think the teams will really have a problem protecting us together.”
While the Hawks are confident the 28-year-old is just beginning to bloom, Gallinari is a little more advanced in his career and ready to take on a slightly different role.
Atlanta valued the 6-foot-10 player not only for his versatile skills – he averaged 18.7 points for Oklahoma City last season and can play both forward and shooter positions – but also for his willingness to play with young players to work together like John Collins. De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish and Kevin Huerter.
Rondo will likely take on a similar role at Young, not only providing valuable point guard minutes from the bench, but also serving as his mentor.
“When you’re a veteran and you speak to a lot of these young players and teach them a lot of things, it’s amazing how you translate that onto the field,” said 32-year-old Gallinari. “If they listen and do what you say, they get better from game to game.”
Hunter, the Hawks’ top draft pick of 2019, is thrilled that a player like Gallinari is pushing him to improve – even if that may mean less time on the court.
“This is how you get better: compete with guys,” said Hunter. “The playing time will work by itself. You can’t worry about that. Just come in and do what you’re supposed to do. After that, it’s in the hands of the coach. “
The Hawks have not been in the playoffs since 2017, two seasons away from their surprising run to the Eastern Conference final.
Gallinari believes that this team is also capable of something special.
“The only goal is to get this team into the postseason,” he said. “And not just to get there. We have to do some damage when we get to the postseason. “
