Bojan Bogdanovic Injury Update: Latest on forward's status ahead of Pistons' NBA 2023-24 season opener against Heat
Bojan Bogdanovic will be forced to watch the Detroit Pistons' season opener from the sidelines because of a calf injury. With the team's highly anticipated season opener against the Miami Heat scheduled for Wednesday, Pistons fans will have to wait to see the team at 100%. According to a recent press release from the Pistons, Bogdanovic suffered a right calf strain that will sideline him for four weeks.
In addition, the team will be missing Monte Morris, who suffered a right quad strain while ramping up for the season and will be out for three weeks. They will also be without Isaiah Livers, who will be out for four weeks with a Grade III left ankle sprain.
While the absence of all three will be troublesome for the Pistons, in the case of Bogdanovic, it means the team is entering the season without one of its starters. According to the team's depth chart, Bogdanovic is expected to start at the small forward position.
In his absence, expect backup Alec Burks and Joe Harris to pick up the slack and receive added minutes. Of course, given Bojan Bogdanovic's production in recent years, it will be difficult for the team to replicate his production against the defending Eastern Conference champs.
Looking ahead at Bojan Bogdanovic and the Detroit Pistons' season
This season is shaping up to be a promising one for the Detroit Pistons. Cade Cunningham will notably be returning after missing most of last season due to a stress fracture in his shin. At the same time, rookie Ausar Thompson is entering the 2023-24 season as one of the most promising rookies from his draft class.
After finishing last season with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, Detroit Pistons fans are feeling cautiously optimistic about this year. While the team isn't expected to make a deep playoff push, it has continued to expand and develop its young core while making notable acquisitions.
Unfortunately for the Pistons, the first four weeks of the season will see them compete without Bojan Bogdanovic, who has proven to be a reliable scorer. Last season, the NBA veteran and former Euro League star averaged a career-high 21.6 points.
Despite Bojan Bogdanovic now being 34 years old, it's clear that his production will be one of the most important factors in the Pistons' success. Should he wind up missing more than the expected four weeks, the team may find itself attempting to claw its way out of a hole.