Carmelo Anthony sends fitting message on Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Serbia fell to Team USA in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics men’s 5x5 basketball semifinal, but they did not go without a fight.

Bogdanovic had a team-high 20 points in Serbia’s 95-91 defeat on August 8, adding four rebounds and three assists to his final tally. He also engaged in spirited chatter during the game and emulated Carmelo Anthony’s signature celebration after making three-pointers.

Bogdanovic was not the only one on Team Serbia to do it, but he did it often and with vigor.

Anthony, who was courtside for the matchup, appreciated the energy. He sent a message to the Hawks swingman to that effect, which Bogdanovic shared.

It was a strong showing for Bogdanovic in the Olympics, with 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He also shot 42.9% from beyond the arc. Hawks fans are very familiar with Bogdanovic’s versatile offensive game.

He averaged 16.9 points, 3.4 boards, and 3.1 assists, shooting 37.4% from deep in 2023-24.

But the veteran gets the credit he deserves on the international stage, where he also became Serbia’s all-time leading scorer during the Olympics.

Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic sparked Team USA’s comeback

Team USA won the fourth quarter 32-15 for a four-point victory. Devin Booker and LeBron James, Anthony’s long-time friend and former Olympic teammate, seemed to especially take note of Serbia’s attempts to goad Anthony, and Bogdanovic, in particular.

James sought out Bogdanovic on a possession in the fourth quarter, backing him down for a basket. James hit Bogdanovic with the infamous “too small” gesture.

After the contest, James ran to Anthony and celebrated the victory.

James went and Bogdanovic shared a brief embrace after the contest; a reminder of the intense emotional swings that players go through in the closing moments and immediate aftermath of a game.

Josh Giddey, Hawks guard Dyson Daniels’ Australian Boomers teammate, put it succinctly.

“Every possession matters, and it can go so quick. We play four games and that’s it. You gotta wait four years. I don’t really know how to sum it up now. It’s so raw and soon after the game,” Giddey told 9News Australia’s Alison Piotrowski on August 8. “We’ve gotta wait another four years. This feeling sucks, and it’s gonna hurt. But it’s gonna build us and we’ll be back in LA.”

Bogdanovic’s emotions also ran high after the game. He took aim at the officials and how the game was called

“We tried to talk to [the referees]; they didn't try to talk to us,” Bogdanovic told BasketNews on August 8. “They just walked away. But it's ok. The USA doesn't need that type of help against us. You know, we didn't have that type of help when they were grabbing us with two hands and all that.”

Bogdanovic said he did not want to “think like a loser” and blame the loss on the referees, instead saying Serbia must turn its attention to Germany and the bronze medal game.

The two nations will face off on August 10 while Team USA meets France for gold.