Bojan Bogdanovic retires after 10 NBA seasons, two with Pacers
Though he spent just two seasons in Indiana, Bojan Bogdanovic — the 31st pick in his draft — left a lasting impression on two Pacers playoff teams.
Former Indiana Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic announced his retirement from basketball on Sunday.
“After 14 months of battling a foot injury, two surgeries, and countless efforts to get back on the court, the time has come to close a chapter,” he shared in a post on Instagram in multiple languages.
Bogdanovic, 36, played in 161 of a possible 164 games with the Pacers, all starts. He averaged 16.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 41.3% from 3-point range.
Here’s the full note he posted:
Sometimes in life, you don't choose the moment. The moment chooses you.
After 14 months of battling a foot injury, two surgeries, and countless efforts to get back on the court, the time has come to close a chapter.
After more than two decades in the game, the moment has arrived to say goodbye to basketball. Not just as a sport, but as a part of who I am.
It's hard to put into words everything this game has given me. It shaped me as an athlete, but even more as a person.
From my childhood in Mostar and my early steps in football and water polo, this journey has been anything but ordinary.
I've had the privilege of playing for clubs that left their mark on both European and NBA basketball.
From Mostar and Zrinjski, to Real Madrid and Murcia, then to Cibona and Fenerbahçe, I wore every jersey with pride.
The NBA brought a whole new level of challenge and experience. I had the honor of wearing the jerseys of the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons and finally the New York Knicks.
Every stop left a mark. Every jersey carried its own weight.
Above all, I had the honor of wearing the Croatian crest on my chest.
Playing for the national team was never just a responsibility. It was pride, emotion and identity.
Representing my country from youth levels all the way to the senior team was the greatest honor of my career.
Thank you to all the coaches, teammates, medical staff, fans and clubs who were part of this journey in any way.
A special thank you to my family. You were the foundation through every high and every doubt.
I'm closing this chapter, but my love for the game remains.
I didn't reach the end. I've reached the other side of the beginning...
He also suited up for five other NBA teams: the Nets, Jazz, Pistons, Knicks, and Wizards. He played the most games (212) for the Nets, where his NBA career began. Though originally drafted 31st overall by the Miami Heat in 2011, he didn’t enter the league until 2014, debuting with Brooklyn.
Bogdanovic signed with the Pacers as a free agent in 2017 and was part of back-to-back playoff teams that suffered first-round exits — losing in seven games to the Cavaliers in 2018, then being swept by the Celtics the following year.
“We had another good season,” Bogey said after the 2019 playoffs. “We fought off a lot of injuries during the season, but the better team won the series. They had more players and we lost our chance I think in the first two games over there in Boston. We lost our momentum.”
The Pacers expected him to return that summer, but he ultimately signed with the Utah Jazz, who offered slightly more.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen this summer and in free agency,” he said then. “I really like it here. Two great years here and we couldn’t make it to the second round, but there’s a lot of potential in Victor (Oladipo), Myles (Turner), Domas (Sabonis) and those players that still have a contract. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I really enjoyed being around this organization and this franchise.
“I don’t care about big market. All I care about is to have a good role on a team that is in the playoffs and trying to advance.”
Even team owner Herb Simon reflected on Bogdanovic’s surprising departure.
“We thought he (Bogdanovic) was going to sign with us. At the last minute, he changed his mind. … I love Bogdanovic, I thought he was going to be on our team. We just can’t keep everybody.”
Pacers fans will always remember The Bojan Bogdanovic Game — Indiana’s Game 3 win over the Cavs in 2018, when he erupted for 30 of the team’s 92 points while being tasked with defending LeBron James.
Injuries derailed his final few NBA seasons. And now, Bogey — a professional player since age 15 — steps away from the game and begins a new chapter.
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