ESPN Rank: Keith Bogans #307 Profile

 As ESPN continues it's rankings, I think it would be a good time to post player profiles for the Celtics as they are listed in the rankings. We already highlighted the Celtics and former Celtics who were listed in the bottom 100, and there were several.   Now, as they list the next 400 players, we will briefly profile those players.   Between numbers 301 and 400, there was just one current Celtic,  Keith Bogans.

At the age of 33, Bogans will be the elder statesman of the group this season. 
He was a four-year starter for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. In his senior year at UK, he led the 2002–2003 Wildcats to a 16–0 sweep of the SEC and the SEC Tournament title. He was an All-American as a college senior, averaging 15.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals.


Bogans has been the ultimate journeyman as he played on 8 different teams in his 10 year NBA career. Bogans was a second round pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was then traded to the Orlando Magic on Draft Day amd started half of the 73 games he played in his rookie season, averaging 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. he Magic traded Bogans to the Charlotte Bobcats at the beginning of the 2004-05 season. Bogans started 42 of his 76 games with the Bobcats, and averaging 9.6 points, 3.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game.

Bogans was traded to the Houston Rockets in the middle of the 2005-06 season and averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists, starting 31 games for the Rockets. In July of 2006, Bogans was a free agent in the 2006 off season and signed on for a 2nd stint with the Magic. He stayed with the Magic for the 2006-07 and '07-'08 seasons and part of the 2007-08 season. He played in just 59 games for the Magic that first season due to a broken thumb and averaged just 5.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. The following season, he played in all 82 games, starting 35, and averaged 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 26 minutes per game.

Bogans was traded midway through the 2008-09 season to the Milwaukee Bucks for former Celtics coach Tyronn Lue. Bogans played only 29 games for the Bucks, averaging 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Bogans then signed with the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent. He played in 79 games, starting 50 for the Spurs and averaged 4.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.

For the 2010-11 season, signed with the Bulls and was a starter for Tom Thibodeau's Bulls. He averaged 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists over 82 games. After the season, defensive guru Tom Thibodeau praised Bogans' defense, saying "If he's guarding you, you know he's guarding you. He's going to make you work. He's a physical player." He was waived by the Bulls after that one season and he signed with the Nets, who were then in New Jersey. He played the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons for the Nets, who had moved to Brooklyn for last season. In his two seasons with the Nets, he averaged 4.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 18.9 minutes per game.

The Celtics learned about Bogans' tough defense last season when he made this play on Leandro Barbosa...

 In an interview soon after the trade, Bogans talked about how he is a team guy, a role player who looks to bring energy when he enters the game.  He has been described as a good locker room guy wherever he has played and he takes pride in that role.   He' discussed his long standing relationship with Rondo since Rondo started at Kentucky.  He feels that Brad Stevens will surprise a lot of people and wants to be an extension of the coach both in the locker room and on the court.   He discusses other things including the Nets teammates who were traded with him in the full interview. 



Bogans was the only Celtic listed in the Rankings from #301 to #400 but there were several other former Celtics in this group including: Mike James - Free Agent (392), Ryan Gomes - OKC Thunder (382), Greg Stiemsma - New Orleans Pelicans (350), Sebastian Telfair - Free Agent (349), Marquis Daniels - Bucks (344), E'Twaun Moore - Magic (337), Mickael Pietrus - Free Agent (329), Gerald Green - Phoenix Suns (326), Jermaine O'Neal - Warriors (312), and Leandro Barbosa - Free Agent (310). There aren't any rankings over the weekend, but I'm sure we will have more for you next week. Stay tuned.  

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