Andrew Bogut is one of the most important players for Golden State as they look to compete for an NBA Championship. But do Australians care?
In 2005, Bogut became the first Australian to be the overall No. 1 pick in an NBA Draft – an historic moment in Australian sporting history.
Bogut was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, far from a team that screams excitement. Having said that, they did well in his rookie season, making it to the first round of the playoffs.
He didn’t play in another playoff series with Milwaukee, missing their 2010 campaign against Atlanta because of injury.
When Bogut was with the Bucks people could be excused for not seeing him play very often because of the tiny market that Milwaukee is. They are never on ESPN, and most Australians could only catch glimpses of Bogut for a few seconds on the nightly news.
Bogut is now on one of the most exciting teams in the entire league. The Golden State Warriors boast the very potent starting line-up of Bogut, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson (aka the ‘The Splash Brothers’), and two All-Stars in Andre Iguodala and David Lee.
The importance of Bogut to the Warriors make-up can’t be underestimated. This was proven in the lead up to the trade deadline.
Golden State were willing to part with all bar two players on their roster if the right offer came their way – Curry and Bogut.
Do we not pay enough attention to Bogut’s success because he isn’t the crazy athletic type?
Or is it because he often does the dirty work and his dominance doesn’t show up on the stat sheet or the highlight reels?
Could it be that we still think of him as the injury-prone No. 1 pick who didn’t live up to the hype?
Spurs guard Patty Mills has been going off lately and he has been getting plenty of attention in Australia.
This attention has been well deserved, but Bogut has been the backbone of Golden State’s defence all season long and has gotten little more than a whisper for his efforts.
Bogut is having himself a great season, and the key is that he has been healthy for most of it, playing in 50 of Golden State’s 58 games.
He recently missed seven games in a row through injury and Golden State’s defence looked drastically different without him. It took veteran big man Jermaine O’Neal to play out of his skin for a couple of games for the Warriors to get wins.
Even Dante Exum, the Aussie teen who is looking like a certain Top 5 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, has been getting a lot more attention than Bogut.
Very rarely will you see an Andrew Bogut jersey being worn by Australians. Instead, we choose the superstars: Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose.
Maybe it’s time we show some Aussie pride and give Andrew Bogut the credit and respect he deserves.
Johnno
Guest
all the time mushi eureka moments, when Bogut you know is gonna hit bricks.
Johnno
Guest
Shaun Kemp was a top player Savage., as was Derrick Coleman both former dream team players, Man up.
SAVAGE
Guest
How did you come up with Shawn Kemp?
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
When Parker and Ginobili were out and Mills was on his hot streak he was getting attention left, right and centre. Twitter was abuzz and whilst this recognition was completely deserved it really made me think about Bogut being under-appreciated.
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
That's exactly the problem! He contributes so much to the Warriors and just because he isn't those things he rarely gets due credit. I think this absolutely should not be the way we think though. We need to look beyond the box scores and actually watch full games to recognize Bogut's efforts.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Still, I would suggest Patty Mills gets more attention than Bogut.
mushi
Guest
He was on the top jeers on Sport Centre for a fast break behind the back pass! It was like looking in a mirror that added a foot of height and 100 pounds of weight
mushi
Guest
Come on when bogut steps up to the free throw line and fires in one of those bullets don't you get one of those eureka moments "That's who this shot blocking defensive behemoth reminds me of reminds me of - Mark Price"
astro
Guest
Bogut is a champion and while I agree that he's under-appreciated, I think that has more to do with the average Aussie not knowing a whole heap about the NBA, than a lack of respect for him. People wear Lebron and Kobe jerseys because they are massively popular athletes. Same for Durant and Melo...Only yesterday I saw a guy wearing a Dwight Laker jersey...now, if he knew anything about the NBA, he might have some idea that wearing that jersey is not a great look. Again, its not about pride or respect, just a lack of knowledge about the game. In relation to the attention he gets, or lack thereof, that is simply related to the type of game he has. SportsCenter doesn't show highlights of the Top Ten defensive rotations, or best box-outs. But thankfully we have Zach Lowe: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-glorious-bastardry-of-andrew-bogut/
astro
Guest
Larry Johnson, Dan Marle (I'm assuming you mean Majerle), Mark Price, and Gary Payton, has the be the strangest list of comparison players for Andrew Bogut I've ever seen. Well done, Johnno.
mushi
Guest
Shawn Kemp?
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
We will have to wait and see. There is no guarantee that the Lakers want Exum enough to pick him before the likes of Parker, Embiid, Randle, or Wiggins. Realistically, the Lakers could have a top 4 pick, which means at least one of the aforementioned players will still be available.
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
Completely agree. Bogut is the perfect fit for GSW. They have the scorers, so Bogut doesn't need to score 20+ points. They need his defence, and he has been providing it for them this season.
Johnno
Guest
Top-20 greatest aussie athletes 1980-2013 1)Mick Doohan 2)Kerry Juna-Saxby 3)Ian Thorpe 4)Shane Warne 5)Kieren Perkins 6)John Bertrand 7)Cathy Freeman 8)Greg Norman 9)Andrew Bogut 10)Glen Mcgrath 11)Anna Meares 12)Torah Bright 13)Steve Hooker 14)Grant Hackett 15)Clint Robinson 16)Wally Lewis 17)Mark Ella 18)Lockeyer 19)Stephanie Rice 20)Harry Kewell There’s some
Johnno
Guest
Top-20 greatest aussie athletes 1980-2013 1)Mick Doohan 2)Kerry Juna-Saxby 3)Ian Thorpe 4)Shane Warne 5)Kieren Perkins 6)John Bertrand 7)Cathy Freeman 8)Greg Norman 9)Andrew Bogut 10)Glen Mcgrath 11)Anna Meares 11)Torah Bright 11)Steve Hooker 12)Grant Hackett 13)Clint Robinson 14)Wally Lewis 15)Mark Ella There's some
Josh Wye
Roar Pro
Great read Hayley, I liked it. I think a lot of Australians that are playing sport overseas are often overlooked. I think golfer Jason Day is the most under appreciated sporting star but Bogut is definitely up there. Bogut deserves a tonne of credit for the season he has had. Before he got injured he was playing outstandingly.
Eagles Forever
Guest
Dante Exum will eclipse Bogut because of his big play ability and will likely be a Laker. Bigger market.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The same can be said about any Australian sportsperson abroad though, if there is little media attention towards them. If NBA was on FTA television or reported on in the news every night then people would discuss it and show support. As talented as Bogut is and looking at the impact he's had on the Warriors, its sad that we don't give him as much attention, just because he plays a sport that not everyone can watch everyday or doesn't get reported on by Seven news, doesn't mean they shouldn't follow his progress.
Johnno
Guest
Okay Bogut's Shaun Kemp or Derrick Coleman
Nick
Guest
Sorry, but as much as I love bogut and I do believe he is a quality player, but he is nowhere near the level of Chris Webber (not to mention you are comparing players of different positions). Webber was one of the most dominant forwards of the modern era, while bogut is a borderline all star at his best