Kings wing Bogdan Bogdanovic is a winner when it comes to playing for his national team. Give him a Serbia jersey and good things will happen.
"The first time I found out I was selected to be a part of my national team was an amazing feeling," Bogdanovic recently said in an interview with FIBA Basketball.
Bogdanovic has been the leading factor in Serbia's success as runners-up at FIBA EuroBasket tournaments in 2014, 2016 and 2017 and the Rio Olympics in 2016. He averaged 20.4 points and 5 assists per game in 2017.
Bogdanovic injured himself while playing for the Serbian national team before last season, though, and missed the start of the year after undergoing knee surgery. That won't stop him from representing his country this time around, however.
Kings teammates Bogdanovic and Nemanja Bjelica both will be playing for Serbia in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
"I can tell you right now, I still get the same goosebumps I got back then, when I'm about to play for the national team," Bogdanovic said to FIBA's website.
Growing up, Bogdanovic dreamed of one day representing his country on the court. He often heard about was the greats who played for the national team, and he has cherished every opportunity he has had to do the same.
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"You make people proud. They don't even need to play basketball to feel motivated," Bogdanovic said. "I like to play all these types of tournaments which FIBA organizes. (FIBA Basketball) World Cup or the (FIBA EuroBasket), it's always good to play and be there with your guys and compete."
