Fit is always an important thing to consider when building an NBA team. Who is the right coach to lead a certain group? Who is the right co-star to pair with the franchise player? Who are the perfect supporting pieces to put around the core?
These are all questions front offices have to consider but sometimes, you only get the answer after seeing a team play together for a while.
Thus, some players just flourish when coming to a different team, system, and coaching style. So, let’s look at three former players who have excelled since leaving the Kings.
3. Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bogdan Bogdanovic started his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings in the 2017-18 season and stayed with the team for three seasons. Over those three seasons, he established himself as a three-point threat and talented scorer, averaging up to 15 points per game.
In 2020, the Kings attempted a sign-and-trade for Bogdanovic with the Bucks, but the deal fell apart when the league started investigating Milwaukee for having contact with Bogdanovic’s team before free agency rules allowed it.
Feeling betrayed by the Kings’ attempt to move him, the Serbian shooting guard eventually signed with the Atlanta Hawks, where he has been ever since. Injuries cut some of his seasons in Atlanta short, but when available, he has been a steady contributor.
Over four seasons, he has continued his good three-point shooting and is now averaging the best scoring numbers of his career with 16.9 points per game.
Bogdanovic was already a good player when he was with the Kings but has really excelled since leaving for Atlanta. This season, he is even a candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award alongside Malik Monk, Norman Powell, and Naz Reid. The main thing standing between him and the award is that the Hawks have a losing record while all other three candidates contribute to winning teams.