Bogdan Bogdanovic is already something

If anyone can recognize international talent when it’s there, it’s Gregg Popovich, and the San Antonio Spurs head coach sees something in Sacramento Kings rookie Bogdan Bogdanovic.

“He’s a pretty good athlete, but he’s a fantastic basketball player,” Popovich told The Step Back in January on a rainy, muddy day in Sacramento. “Really understands innately how to play the game. He’s just built for it mentally. When you’re shooting the ball or understanding spatial arrangements on the court, who he’s playing with, what shot is good, what shot’s not, how to play with his teammates, he’s really got a high basketball IQ. On top of that, he’s got good skills. He handles the ball, he passes and shoots.”

It’s not often you hear the brusque-by-default Popovich ramble on like this. Only when he’s excited or passionate about the topic. Popovich was early on the Bogi Train. About a month after making those comments, Bogdanovic won Most Valuable Player honors at the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend.

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Over the second half of the season, he’s quite possibly emerged as the Kings’ best player. He isn’t unformed Play-Doh like De’Aaron Fox, Harry Giles or Willie Cauley-Stein. Nor is he a declining veteran like Vince Carter or Zach Randolph. Bogdanovic can play, and he can play right now. The Kings have acted accordingly.

The Phoenix Suns drafted Bogdanovic out of Serbia with the 27th pick in 2014 and stashed him overseas. He was acquired by the Kings in 2016 in a draft-day trade that sent the No. 8 pick Marquese Chriss to Phoenix while also netting the No. 13 pick (Georgios Papagiannis) and the No. 28 pick (Skal Labissiere). Bogdanovic, who came over to the NBA this season, was an unknown commodity even compared to those other rookies. He could very well end up as the best player in the deal.

What stands out in Bogdanovic’s game is his efficiency. Among rookies who have taken at least 500 field goal attempts, Bogdanovic (54.5 percent) has the highest effective field goal percentage. He’s a knockdown 3-point shooter, sinking nearly 40 percent of his four 3-point attempts per game. He doesn’t force anything on offense, but he’s confident. During the Rising Stars Challenge, when he could let his hair down a bit, Bogdanovic let it fly from several feet beyond the 3-point arc. Dude has range.

Bogdanovic is quiet. Humble. It’s hard to get him to talk about himself. But he’s got a competitive streak that’s obvious when you watch him play. He hasn’t backed down when matched up with LeBron James or Paul George. He’s gone right at them on both ends of the court, and he seems to relish the moment.

“He doesn’t have any fear. He’s not intimidated by the NBA, and he comes right in and plays,” Popovich said. “He’s been in a lot of big games. You don’t have to be in the NBA to play in big games. They do that all around the world. All those things are evident about him.”

It was evident, also, in November when he hit the game-winning shot against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Guarded by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green, Bogdanovic didn’t call for a screen to force a switch. He went into Green’s chest and got off a floater.

In addition to scoring, Bogdanovic is a good facilitator, and Kings head coach Dave Joerger will let him lead the second-unit offense. He runs a solid pick-and-roll, with 30 percent of his possessions coming as a ball-handler. He’s an accurate and crafty passer.

Bogdanovic shows a maturity and feel for the game beyond that of a typical rookie. That’s because he’s not. Bogdanovic has been playing professional basketball since he was 18. He’s 25-years-old now, and people in the Kings organization don’t think of him as a rookie, though they do view him as a building block.

However, Bogdanovic has limitations, and his ceiling remains a topic of debate. He doesn’t have the athleticism of fellow rookie Fox — he’s closer to below average at his position. He plays hard on defense, but he’s generously listed at 6-foot-6 and won’t be able to switch onto larger wings. You have to wonder how much more runway he has in his development at 25-years-old.

Still, the Bogdanovic acquisition is a homerun compared to Sacramento’s spotty draft-day history. The Kings have quietly built what could become a foundational backcourt with Fox, Bogdanovic, Buddy Hield and Frank Mason III. Fox, in particular, has star potential, but he’s only 20 and still raw as a prospect. The position of point guard takes several years to learn, and Fox may be just starting to figure it out by the time Bogdanovic is in his prime. Sacramento isn’t in a position to worry about that. Getting good players is the top priority for Kings general manager Vlade Divac. Timelines and windows can come later.

For now, “Bogi and the Fox” (Copyright) show good chemistry on and off the court. Fox — the made-for-GQ celebrity about to pop — and Bogdanovic — a tough cookie who’s all business on the outside with a fiery center — go through shooting drills together before games.

There’s early signs of a dangerous backcourt. Fox is always a threat to slash to the rim. Blink as a defender, and Fox could be dunking behind you before you know it. Bogdanovic’s ability to play with the ball takes some of the responsibility off Fox and allows him to play off the ball, and hit unprepared defenses with the cut.

“I feel like we’re both point guards on the floor,” Fox told NBC Sports California. “He’s 6-foot-6, but he can play the one. It feels like you have two point guards.”

By no means do the Kings have it figured out. As evidenced by their record, they are still very much rebuilding. This will be the 12th season in a row that they’ve failed to finish better than 10th in the Western Conference. They haven’t won more than 38 games since the 2005-06 season.

Over the last two decades the people of Sacramento have seen a contender crumble, DeMarcus Cousins traded, free agents underperform and countless draft picks bust. Potential is a jagged pill. The experience of rooting for the Kings has very much been defined by what players could be, not what they are. As for the front office, with so many questions and possibilities, it’s nearly impossible to build a roster and determine a direction.

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The Kings can use someone who is ready now. Someone molded and defined they can rely on. Bogdanovic may never blossom into the star to lead Sacramento to the promised land but, for now, he gives them someone to drag them out of the mud.