The Atlanta Hawks suffered a potentially devastating blow on Saturday night when Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered a bad knee injury. There was no definitive diagnosis, but Bogdanovic was almost immediately ruled out for the remainder of the match.
In the middle of the second room, Bogdanovic climbed on the floor and tried to avoid LaMelo Ball, who was trying to steal. When Bogdanovic changed direction, he was knocked over by the rookie and accidentally cut his own heel, which caused him to lose his balance. He fell awkwardly onto his right leg, which folded under him and threw him on the floor.
Here is a video of the injury, which is not pleasant to see:
Bogdanovic had to be helped to the locker room and did not return to the game. At this point it is still too early to say how much time he can lose, but based strictly on the video and his reaction, unfortunately, there is a good chance that it will be a long-term injury.
After a hectic off-season in which he almost traded with the Milwaukee Bucks, Bogdanovic signed a four-year, $ 72 million contract with the Hawks at a free agency. It was part of a major Atlanta makeover, which also brought Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn. Unfortunately, Dunn, Bogdanovic and Gallinari suffered injuries. Dunn did not play due to ankle surgery, while Gallinari has only played one game this season and is currently out on the pitch due to a sprained ankle.
Although they started very well, the Hawks have struggled lately, losing their last three games and dropping to 4-4 this season. They also did not face the elite competition exactly, losing the disputes to the Cavaliers, Knicks and Hornets. If Bogdanovic is out for a while, it will be even more difficult for Trae Young and company. Known for their powerful offensive attack, the Hawks have a bad offensive rating of 98.3 during their three-game losing streak, which is the second worst in the league during that period.
If that wasn’t enough, there was also some drama off the court. John Collins reportedly criticized Young during a contentious film session and was supported by several teammates. Players also complained about coach Lloyd Pierce, questioning his decision making during the game.
That said, it’s clear that things are not going as planned in Atlanta this season. They had hopes of reaching the playoff, but between injuries and internal conflicts, this task will be much more difficult than anticipated.