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Atlanta Hawks goalie Bogdan Bogdanovic will be out indefinitely after sustaining a broken knee, the team announced on Sunday. Following an MRI, he was officially diagnosed with “an avulsion fracture and associated soft tissue inflammation and bone bruising.” The Hawks have said a timeline for Bogdanovic’s recovery will be announced later this week.
Bogdanovic was injured Saturday night in the Hawks’ loss to the Hornets. In the middle of the second quarter, he rose to the ground and tried to avoid LaMelo Ball, who was looking for a theft. As Bogdanovic changed direction, he suffered a foul on the part of the rookie and accidentally cut his heel, causing him to lose his balance. He landed awkwardly on his right leg, which twisted beneath him and sent him crashing to the ground.
Here is a video of the injury, which is not pleasant to watch:
Bogdanovic had to be helped in the locker room and did not return to the game. At this point, we’re still not sure exactly how much time he’ll be missing, but it’s clear it will be a long-lasting absence.
After a turbulent offseason in which he was nearly traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, Bogdanovic signed a four-year, $ 72 million contract with the Hawks in free agency. He was part of a major Atlanta overhaul, which also brought in Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo, and Kris Dunn. Sadly, Dunn, Bogdanovic and Gallinari were all injured. Dunn has not played due to ankle surgery, while Gallinari has only made one more game this season and is currently sidelined with a sprained ankle.
Although they’ve got off to a good start, the Hawks have struggled lately, losing their last four games to drop to 4-4 this season. They also didn’t face elite competition, dropping competitions at Cavaliers, Knicks and Hornets (twice). If Bogdanovic is indeed out for a while, it will become even more difficult for Trae Young and Co. Known for their powerful offensive offense, the Hawks have a dismal offensive rating of 101 in the four-game losing streak, which is the third worst. in the league during this period.
If that wasn’t enough, there was some drama off the pitch as well. John Collins is said to have criticized Young during a controversial movie screening and has had the support of various teammates. Players have also complained about head coach Lloyd Pierce, questioning his in-game decision making.
All in all, it’s clear that things aren’t going to be in Atlanta this season. They had hopes of getting into the playoff picture, but between injuries and internal strife, this task will be much more difficult than they anticipated.
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