Rockets 2026-2027 Player Previews: Bogdan Bogdanovic

Flawed analogy: An NBA team is like a video game build.

Each team has attributes, and each team has to choose which attributes to prioritize. Although that’s where the flaws in the analogy begin. In most video games, the limitations on attribute distribution are stricter. It’s typically smart to punt on strength entirely if your build is charisma-focused. The NBA is less capped: Ideally, you’d max out in everything.

Yet, there’s still something of a cap. There are only so many good players. It can be sensible to triple down. That’s what the Houston Rockets have mostly done. They’ve sunk most of their attribute points into defense and rebounding:

Bogdan Bogdanovic is the exception.

Bogdanovic brings much-needed skills to Rockets

Historically, Bogdanovic has been a knockdown shooter who can also handle the ball and make plays for teammates. He’s not a great defender. We’ll get into that, but first, let’s address the elephant in the room:

Bogdanovic may not be good anymore.

We all know it. Last year, Bogdanovic appeared in just 23 games. He averaged 7.4 points with a 52.5 True Shooting % (TS%), and per DataBallr, the Clippers were -5.1 when he was on the floor.

If we’re being charitable, Bogdanovic was playing hurt. He got injured in EuroLeague over the summer. If we’re being less charitable, some injuries don’t really heal, and at 34, it’s possible that Bogdanovic’s goose is irrevocably cooked.

With that ugliness out of the way…

In 2024-25, the Bogey Man had a strange season. He struggled for 24 games with the Hawks, got traded to the Clippers, and started lighting it up, averaging 11.4 points per game while hitting 42.7% of his 4.8 threes per game in 30 games with the Los Angeles Aspiration*.

*Shout out to Pablo Torres.

Is it so inconceivable that we’re getting that Bogdanovic? Thirty-four is old, but it’s not old old. It’s possible that Bogdanovic is healthy again and ready to give the Rockets an injection of floor spacing and secondary ball-handling.

If Ime Udoka is even willing to play him.

Bogdanovic may not fit Rockets’ vision

Even at his best, Bogdanovic has never been much for defense.

The Rockets also signed Marcus Smart this summer. He’s not as dynamic as (the best version of) Bogdanovic offensively, but the gap is wider on defense, and Ime Udoka being who he is…

Time will tell how often Bogdanovic even sees the floor.

If anything, the Bogdanovic signing signals that Rafael Stone has (at least some) understanding of what this team needs. That’s a positive. Otherwise, Bogdanovic may need to wait for an opportunity, and all we can do is hope that he’s ready for it:

You don’t get infinite lives in the National Basketball Association.