Bojan Bogdanovic reveals EuroLeague teams he would love to play if returned to Europe / News - Basketnews.com

"Real Madrid and Fenerbahce would be the two teams I would love to play for if I returned to Europe," Bogdanovic revealed. "But right now, I don't think this way."

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Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic was a target of roughly a dozen NBA teams during the trade window, who offered first- or second-rounders for Detroit, but the franchise showed no urgency about moving the Croatian veteran.

Bojan Bogdanovic

MIN:32.06PTS:21.69 (59.16%)REB:3.64As:2.58ST:0.6BL:0.13TO:2.24GM:55ProfileNBA2022/2023

In late October, he agreed on a two-year, $39.1 million contract extension with the Pistons. Since joining the team following September's trade, Bogdanovic has been a key player for the rebuilding franchise.

Throughout 55 matches of the 2022-23 season, the veteran wing has been averaging 21.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game on 48.7% shooting from the field.

"I wasn't really aware of the whole process, the teams were just negotiating and it was out of my hands. Detroit's decision was to keep me here. They showed how much they love me here, so we'll see what happens next year. We have a salary space to add good players. I hope we'll be much better next season than we are now," Bogdanovic told Toni Canyameras of Mundo Deportivo.

Almost nine years have passed since Bogdanovic's last game in Europe. Fenerbahce was his last team before making a leap to the NBA in the summer of 2014.

"I think the NBA is still a couple of steps above the EuroLeague," Bogdanovic pointed out. "The best are here [NBA], but the EuroLeague is improving and is more interesting than ever for the fans this season. It is interesting to watch and follow it. I would like to see more EuroLeague games, but the time difference is challenging."

What rules would he bring from Europe to the NBA and vice versa?

"I think, eventually, the EuroLeague is going to have 48-minute games. There will be more points, and it will be more fun for the fans. Also, the modification of the 3-second rule like we play here. Those two rules can change in the EuroLeague," the 33-year-old shared his vision.

Bojan Bogdanovic

Team:Detroit PistonsPosition:SF, SGAge:33Height:200 cmWeight:98 kgBirth place:CroatiaProfileNewsStatistics

Asked if he would like to trythose new rules implemented in Europe, Bogdanovic delivered an ambiguous answer.

"I don't think I'll play in Europe again (smiles). Yes, I would like to but I don't care… I like this debate, it's a different type of basketball, the mentality in Europe is different from here, each game is played hard," he said.

Apart from Fenerbahce, Bogdanovic also spent time at another European powerhouse -- Real Madrid -- during his 10-year professional time on Old Continent. Real and Fenerbahce remain his two favorite landing destinations.

"Real Madrid and Fenerbahce would be the two teams I would love to play for if I returned to Europe," he revealed. "But right now, I don't think this way."

Then the conversation switched to international basketball.

Last September, Bogdanovic participated in FIBA EuroBasket 2022 where Croatia stumbled against Finland in the Round of 16. As he earlier revealed, it was his last game with the national team.

Could Bogdanovic change his mind going forward?

"My position is at the same point as this past summer. I don't think it's going to change," Pistons forward admitted.

Croatia has not qualified for the FIBA World Cup 2023 and the recent results have not been satisfactory, despite having multiple NBA players on board. What's happening?

"We have a lot of injury problems. Basically, throughout my entire national team career, we have never had the best players because of injuries," he stressed.

"It is assumed that with good players, we have to do something, but it is the million-dollar question, why can't we? We should be better, but the injuries have always been there," he concluded.

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