Bogdan Bogdanovic is settling into Houston with a clear understanding of why the Rockets brought him in. The veteran guard, who signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal this offseason, said the fit made sense on both sides when he spoke with Basketball Sphere.
“How can I put it? I think it was mutual.
They need shooters, and I was also looking at where I could fit in and adapt best. I liked the coaching staff, the organization, and the team.
I think it’s one of the most talented teams in the NBA.
At the same time, the Rockets are a team that has a mix of youth and experience, or veterans and younger players. It’s quite difficult to put together a team like that, one that has been together for some time, with certain players having spent a long time in the NBA.
Those were all things I liked. That’s why I’m happy and satisfied to be part of this team.”
Houston’s interest comes with a very specific need attached: shooting. Bogdanovic’s track record last season with the Los Angeles Clippers showed limited usage, as injuries and depth-chart choices kept him to 23 games and a line of 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. His role has declined in recent years, so this is a chance to carve out a useful spot again.
The preseason offered a glimpse of what he can still bring. Bogdanovic posted 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across three exhibition games while shooting 41.2% from beyond the arc. That kind of output, paired with his veteran résumé, should help him hold off others battling for the last rotation minutes.
The Rockets’ roster mix makes that competition real. Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant are locked in as starters, while Reed Sheppard, Marcus Smart, and Tari Eason are among the players who could also be in the conversation for time at Bogdanovic’s position. Even so, Houston’s need for a perimeter threat is obvious, especially with Thompson and Alperen Sengun both shooting under 31% from three-point range last season.
That is where Bogdanovic fits best. He may not be asked to do much more than provide a shooting punch when Houston wants to spread the floor, and his playing time could wind up looking a lot like what he had with the Clippers. But for a team with high expectations and a roster built with both youth and experience, he has a defined job and a real chance to help off the bench.
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Reed Sheppard Faces A Tough Rockets Reality This Season
Reed Sheppard has done the one thing that usually gets a young guard noticed in preseason: he has kept the ball moving and made shots. His perimeter touch has stood out, and the early returns have only reinforced why the Rockets were intrigued by him in the first place, especially as they try to sort out where he fits in a backcourt that already has established names.
The issue for Sheppard is that Houstons guard room is crowded enough that shooting alone may not be enough to carve out steady minutes. With Marcus Smart, Fred VanVleet and Bogdan Bogdanovic in the mix, the Rockets have more veterans to lean on, and the questions around Sheppards defense only add another layer to the challenge. For a player who looked like he could push for a larger role, the season may end up being more about patience than instant opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
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The Rockets came into the preseason with a fairly clean-looking picture for the 2026-27 rotation, with nine players seemingly locked in around veterans like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun. But Bogdan Bogdanovic, brought in during the offseason, has already made things a little less tidy for Ime Udoka, and that is usually the kind of complication a coach does not mind having when camp winds down.
Bogdanovic helped Houston close the preseason with a win over Oklahoma City, giving the team a strong final look before the games start to count. The Rockets finished 2-1 in exhibition play, but the bigger question now is how Udoka sorts out the minutes behind his top group, especially if Bogdanovic keeps giving the staff a reason to pause before settling on the opening-night plan. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Playoff Hopes Come With One Backcourt Concern They Can't Ignore
The Rockets enter the offseason with plenty of reasons to believe their core is moving in the right direction, but point guard remains one of the clearest pressure points. Fred VanVleet is set to return from an ACL injury and is still expected to give Houston the steadiness and veteran voice it needs, while Reed Sheppards strong sophomore season gives the team a promising second option. Still, the backcourt picture has been viewed as shaky enough that Houston is already being discussed as a club that may need to get creative.
Amen Thompson could be part of that answer if the Rockets decide to lean into his playmaking more, but there is also a bigger swing on the board if they want a more established fix. Houstons playoff ambitions make the position hard to ignore, and the front office may have to decide whether internal development is enough or whether a trade path is necessary to raise the ceiling of the group. [Read more 🡒]