33-year old Celtics guard Keith Bogans (yes, he’s still in the League) is frustrated about barely seeing the court in head coach Brad Stevens’ rotation. Per Hoopsworld:
“I just want to play,” Bogans said. “I want to play basketball. I want to get off the bench.”
Bogans was traded to the Celtics from the Brooklyn Nets last summer in the deal that included Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. He became part of an already-crowded backcourt with limited opportunities for playing time. The Celtics opened the season with seven guards on their roster, including the injured Rajon Rondo. In spite of the makeup of the team, Bogans thought he would see minutes.
“I had no idea that I would be in this position,” Bogans said. “[My expectations were] that I would play.”
Once training camp wrapped up and the regular season got underway, Bogans said, he realized his role would be different than in the past. He has appeared in just four games this season for a total of 28 minutes. He has not played since November 30 and is scoreless thus far. This is unfamiliar territory for the veteran who has a career average of 21.7 minutes per game, including 19.0 minutes and 23 starts last season with the Nets. With the exception of the 2011-12 season in which he was shut down by an ankle injury, Bogans’ previous season-low was 59 game appearances.
“[I miss] everything,” Bogans said. “Everything. Imagine 11 years and just this. … It would not matter [how many minutes] as long as I was on the court playing. It wouldn’t matter. I’ve got more DNPs [this season] than I have in 10 years.”
