It's been 18 months since Keith Bogans last played an NBA game, rendered a form of non-playing NBA currency by a lucrative, but somewhat pyrrhic, contract that kept him off a roster in 2014-15.
Now, at age 35, the 11-year veteran is looking to use the Las Vegas Summer League to make his case for a somewhat unlikely comeback.
Summer League is where rookies cut their teeth and fringe NBA players try to get noticed. It's rarely where aged veterans attempt to remind the hoops community of their existence, of their relevance, and of their value. Suiting up with the Portland Trail Blazers in Vegas later this week, Bogans is trying to do just that.
"My goal is just to be around the game," Bogans said. "I can still play the game. Still in shape. I just wanted to take last year off and start this year off with a fresh start ... I know it would be more of a coach/player type role."
Bogans always seemed a likely candidate to enter the coaching ranks when his playing career ended, and the role of on-court veteran mentor generally exists for rebuilding teams. It's possible a team could just ask him to join the coaching ranks if his game isn't up to par, something that seems likely given he's played six games in the last two-plus calendar years.
In 671 career games, Bogans has averaged 6.3 points and 2.7 rebounds while canning 35.3 percent of his 3-point attempts. Known for his wing defense and toughness, he wouldn't stand to see much playing time if he landed on a roster for 2015-16.
