One of the Suns' offseason developments is already underway. Bogdan Bogdanovic, who Phoenix selected 27th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, has been named the Euroleague Rising Star trophy winner for the second year in a row.
Bogdanovic, who was also part of Serbia's run to the 2014 FIBA World Cup championship game, averaged 10.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 35.7 percent from three-point range for Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul this season. He also started 25 of 27 games, a rarity for young players in a league that prefers veteran continuity and chemistry.
Yet Bogdanovic appears to be ahead of the usual Euroleague curve after having already won the Rising Star award in 2013-14 while playing for Partizan Belgrade. The 6-6 guard has a knack for hitting game-swinging shots, especially from deep.
That, combined with his athleticism and contagious passion for the game, won him a significant following in Europe. In the 2014 voting for Euroleague Player of the Year, Bogdanovic garnered more fan votes than well-known NBA players Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki and Goran Dragic.
Candidates for the Rising Star award must be no older than 21 years old during the summer before the season, a cut Bogdanovic (now 22) narrowly made.