Serbia was in a prime position to pull off an upset over the United States in the semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Bogdan Bogdanovic was letting all of Barcy Arena know.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is the only active Serbian player with more NBA experience than Bogdanovic, and the prolific scoring wing wasn't shying away against Team USA's star power.
He lit up the United States for a team-high 20 points and was a major reason Serbia built a 17-point lead. As he started to heat up in the first half, he hit a big 3-pointer and looked directly at former USA Basketball legend Carmelo Anthony sitting courtside as he hit Melo's signature celebration.
Why was Bogdanovic targeting his trash talk toward Anthony? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.
MORE: Three takeaways from USA's thrilling win over Serbia
Why was Bogdan Bogdanovic trash talking Carmelo Anthony?
It felt personal when Bogdanovic looked right at Anthony while hitting the "three to the head" celebration after a 3-pointer in the first half.
This wasn't the first time that Bogdanovic used Melo's signature move, but he also talked a big game to the former USA Basketball star throughout the night.
Nahhh this is crazy disrespectful 😭 pic.twitter.com/yTlXxvURPN
— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) August 8, 2024
Anthony and the United States got the last laugh, though.
When Team USA started to mount its comeback, the three-time Olympic gold medalist was up and active, helping direct his former teammates through the game's biggest moments.
kevin durant iso middy pic.twitter.com/dbB5X4jxFy
— who is @goaltend (@2MANYBRIDGES) August 8, 2024
The United States came away with a miraculous 95-91 victory to advance and ultimately win the gold medal match, while Bogdanovic and Serbia bounced back to win the bronze.
As it turns out, the back and forth between Anthony and Bogdanovic was all rooted in love. Anthony confirmed he was talking toward Bogdanovic but the nature of his words were actually encouraging.
"That's my son right there," Anthony said on his 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. "It was real-time, real s— going on. I'm not even saying nothing to Bogi. I'm like, as he's playing, he'll make a shot I'd say 'Oh, I like that, Bogi. I see you.' I'm talking that s— to him.
"So I appreciate everybody taking my side but the real s— was, he was showing love."
Anthony added that he wanted to cheer for Bogdanovic but had to remain stoic due to his obvious ties to Team USA. Anthony, like everyone else who tuned in, said that the semifinal game was one of the best he had ever been to.
As for the mutual respect, Bogdanovic and Anthony faced off several times in the NBA and as one X user pointed out, the two faced off on the Olympic stage before.
it makes sense now. Melo torched Serbia lol https://t.co/3BYE8U0ldD pic.twitter.com/xVvTW59ByT
— Chris Foxx (@FoxxFiles) August 8, 2024
Anthony's Team USA squad destroyed 23-year-old Bogdanovic and Serbia in the gold medal match at the 2016 Rio Games, 96-66. Anthony only had seven points on seven shots but knowing the star forward's tendencies, it's safe to assume he was letting Serbia hear it the entire night.
Team USA and Serbia also battled in the Group Stage of the 2016 Olympics and the United States snuck out with a narrow 94-91 win. Anthony had 12 points to Bogdanovic's seven in that game.
Confirming the fact that there was never any true beef, Bogdanovic and Anthony embraced after Serbia defeated Germany to earn a bronze medal.
Bogdan Bogdanovic and Carmelo Anthony embrace after Serbia secure the Bronze Medal in the Paris Olympics 🔥 pic.twitter.com/erGh3mI3kk
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 10, 2024
Even so, with the outcome of the USA vs. Serbia game, Bogdanovic learned a valuable lesson: Stay Melo.
