As NBA free agency draws to a close and Andrew Bogut remains a free agent, his decorated career in basketball may be drawing to an end.
At this stage, his options include waiting for an NBA side to offer him a Veteran Minimum Contract, accepting a lucrative deal from China, or retuning home to play in the NBL. In any case, whatever Bogut’s future has in store for him, he will go down as Australia’s greatest ever.
Bogut is a trailblazer in every sense of the word for Australian basketball. He entered the league in 2005, when Australian basketball was crying out for talent. Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal’s careers were drawing to a close and Luc Longley had retired four years prior.
Enter Bogut who was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the first overall pick. Bogut was highly regarded after a stellar sophomore year for the University of Utah (averaging 20.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1 steal per game) and an eye-catching tournament with the Boomers at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Bogut shot out of the gate in his first season for the Bucks as they finished the season with a record of 40-42 and qualified for the finals in eighth place. Bogut finished the season averaging 9.4 points and 7 rebounds and was awarded a place in the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Bogut continued to toil away in Milwaukee over the next few seasons, before exploding in the 2009-10 season. He averaged 15.9 points, 10.2 assists and 2.5 blocks per game in a season where the Bucks finished with a record of 46-36 (still their best season since 2001).
Bogut was awarded with a place in the All-NBA Third Team. A year later, although with injuries starting to set in, Bogut led the league in Blocks with 2.6 per game.
The following year, Bogut was then traded to the Golden State Warriors who with young guard duo Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, were beginning to make noise in the West. Bogut’s role morphed in Golden State as Curry and Thompson went on to become two of the greatest scorers in league history.
Bogut’s offensive game took a back seat as his defence started to shine though. In 2014-15, Bogut averaged 6.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks and was awarded with a place on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. This was a stellar year for Bogut and the Warriors as they finished the season with a record of 67-15 and won their first title in 40 years, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2 in the finals.
Even though Bogut was relegated to the bench for large chunks of the finals series as both sides went to ‘small ball’ line-ups, Bogut was instrumental during the regular season in getting them to the finals.
Unfortunately for Bogut, his productivity began to take a steep dive following this season. In the 2015-16 season, Bogut’s numbers (5.4 points, 7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks) started to decline and again did not participate fully in the finals series, this time due to a knee injury.
(AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Following this season, Bogut was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a salary dump so the Warriors could sign superstar Kevin Durant. Bogut was in and out of the Mavericks side, largely due to multiple injuries he sustained during the year.
In the end, he was shipped out of Dallas to Philadelphia who waived him immediately. To complete the season from hell, Bogut was then signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, only to break his leg less than a minute into his first game.
Putting the last few years aside however, it’s clear that Andrew Bogut has had a very good career in a very challenging and competitive league. Since Bogut’s entry into the league, the number of Australian’s has ballooned to an all time high.
Last season found eight Australians (Aron Baynes, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Joe Ingles, Thon Maker, Patty Mills and Ben Simmons) including Bogut on NBA lists, with this number set rise in the future.
Arguably, only Luc Longley and Patty Mills have had the kind of success Bogut has had in the league thus far. Longley won three titles with Michael Jordan in the 90s, while Mills won one title with San Antonio in 2013-14.
But neither of them were ever considered to be part of the core of their championship winning teams, rather they were both role players in a bigger scheme. Bogut however was the undoubted best player in Milwaukee during his prime and became a vital cog in the Golden State defensive scheme.
So when Andrew Bogut does eventually retire from basketball, he should be remembered as both Australia’s greatest ever player and the trailblazer for this current crop of Australians tearing up the NBA.
astro
Guest
All good Swamp and understand your argument...Still disagree and think Jackson's achievements put her in the lead. To me, the numbers argument doesn't really add up (excuse the pun). Take something niche like bodybuilding...is it 'easier' to reach the top of that sport because so few guys actually do it? I wouldn't look at Mr Olympia and say he works any less hard than Lebron, or is any less gifted at bodybuilding as Lebron is at basketball, just because fewer people compete in bodybuilding than basketball...would you? Besides, its hardly soccer vs polo in terms of numbers anyway. A study in 2012 estimated 6.5million women and girls play basketball just in the US. While that's not the same in number as men, its hardly a niche sport, especially in the context of women's sports. And in terms of Jackson vs Bogut, only one is a 3 time MVP and has been unanimously recognised as one of the greatest players ever...and its not Bogut.
Swampy
Guest
astro - you make valid points and its just my own opinion. There are around 450 million people who play basketball globally according to FIBA. Do you think anyone mentions the divide between number of men vs number of women playing? I can't find a single article anywhere. My assumption is that many more males play than women thus it is significantly harder to achieve success in men's basketball than in women's. Like making it to the top in soccer vs making it to the top in polo. One is a greater achievement than the other. And I recommend you read up Sue Bird's biography for her career. It is extensive. She hasn't had her jersey retired either because at 36 she is still playing in it.
astro
Guest
Allow me to completely disagree with you on this one, Swampy. Women's basketball is played all over the world...Asia, South America, Europe, North America etc. and in the WNBA there are a cosy 12 teams, so the idea that making the WNBA is somehow significantly easier than making the NBA is false, and also pretty insulting. As for Jackson, she is easily this countries best basketball player. But don't believe me...Believe Lebron: "She is close to the top. She reminds me of Dirk in our league, someone who is taller than everyone else but has the shooting ability of a point guard or shooting guard … I think it's awesome" and believe Kobe: "Everyone I talk to has her in the top three - and I mean everyone. I've got so much respect for [Jackson]" I don't need to list her achievements here, but 3 time MVP should tell you how great she was. And remember, for 6 or 7 years, she played in the WNBL and WNBA during the course of the same year! She was voted as one of the top 15 players in the history of the WNBA...Bogut is great, but not anywhere close to that. For someone who knows a lot about basketball, I find it odd that you have this perception about Jackson, and undervalue her skills and achievements. The argument that she's seen as the 'second best player' on the Storm behind Sue Bird, is also kind of odd considering Bird has never won an MVP, and Jackson her her number retired with the Storm, so is obviously valued.
Swampy
Guest
Chris - this is not as simple an argument as male VS female. Lauren Jackson was a wonderful player and certainly achieved a great deal during her career though injuries, like Bogut, limited her in her last decade of playing. We do over rate her a little in Australia - most people who supported the Storm considered her the second best player on her team to Sue Bird - many Aussies probably don't even know who Sue bird is. Women's basketball however has a significantly lower participation rate world wide than men's basketball. This fact alone means that it is a far greater achievement just to make the NBA than the WNBA. You are competing against 10's of millions of others just to get there. Women's basketball as a professional sport is still really in its infancy. In reality it's similar to tennis in the 50's and 60's where only a few wealthy Western nations competed in tennis and most honours were shared between the USA and Australia. Tennis is a far more worldly game these days and Australia's significance has lessened. It is quite possible this will also occur in women's basketball (Rio the first warning sign). Thats my case anyway. You are free to disagree with me
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
Tbh, I'd love to see him in the NBL in the next few years. Maybe at the Kings. Would be a great mentor for the league and youngsters coming through. Guys like Isaac Humphries could learn alot from Bogut's experience.
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
AMEN to that!!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Have to agree with others, that at this point his career probably puts him as the best MALE basketballer Australia has produced. Lauren Jackson clearly way ahead. And no, there's no caveat about how well she'd go playing against the men, that's not how such things should be judged. But Bogut is only 32, and by all reports has fully recovered from his broken leg now. He's still got plenty left in him, and I'd be pretty shocked if he wasn't picked up by some NBA team on at least a 1 year, minimum contract. He would be perfect for a young team. He's someone who makes the players around him better, helps keep things organised on court. I think he'd be a great fit for a team like Philly or Boston, who have lots of young, raw talent and could do with that sort of unselfish, veteran player who does exactly what the team needs and makes everyone around him better.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Agreed. While it was Jordan's team and in a way every other player was a "role-player", and Longley was definitely a "role-player", he definitely wasn't a bit-player, but very core to the team's success.
Swampy
Guest
See above.
Swampy
Guest
Thanks for your input Mr politically correct but while LJ's achievements in the world of women's ball are topped by no one, she wouldn't have got a game for a SEABL men's team. The gulf in athleticism is that great between the two.
alex
Guest
Lauren Jackson is the best by far, not even close.
John
Guest
I think there's a case to be made that Luc Longley was far more than just a bit player. The triangle offense was centered around a big passing center and he had the hands to play that role very well.
Minz
Guest
Ahem, that should be MALE basketball player. Lauren Jackson's the best Australian basketball player ever, and any of the guys have a very long way to go.
Swampy
Guest
Are u trolling because he was the starting centre for a best ever 73 win team. Yes he played a role but it was important. They would have kept him but for the need to shed salary to sign durant
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
That in itself is a blight on the argument that rings mean more personal accolades.......
Swampy
Guest
Agreed - though Gaze is equal with him with nba titles ?
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
I'd be genuinely concerned if none of Exum/Simmons/Bolden/Mills/Maker surpassed him by the time they all retire. But as of right now, Bogut has everyone covered easily.
Swampy
Guest
Will currently finish as our greatest ever basketball era but many from the current crop will surpass him. I can imagine a title contender will sign him once he recovers from his broken leg.
Danny Boy
Guest
Pretty sure he was a role player at Golden State. He even became a liability!
Ben Sewell
Roar Pro
My mistake, 10.2 rebounds**