BIO: Andrew Bogut was born in 1984. His parents, Michael and Anne, had immigrated to Australia from Croatia in the 1970s. He began playing basketball as a junior with the Sandringham basketball program.

Andrew Bogut idolised Drazen Petrovic and Toni Kukoc growing up, both Croatian born players as a young aspiring basketball player and was lucky enough to play with Kukoc during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks. Bogut received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2002. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2002, 2003).

FAMILY: Bogut and his wife Jessica have two sons, Luka and Nikola.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Andrew Bogut made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 33 years of age. He scored six points in his first game.

After finishing seventh with an 11-17 record in 2017/18 and missing the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, Sydney entered the 2018/19 season with significantly higher expectations after constructing one of the NBL’s most experienced rosters. Andrew Gaze returned for a third season as coach, while Perry Ellis (to Europe), Tom Garlepp (retired), Jason Cadee (to Brisbane), Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra) and reigning Rookie of the Year Isaac Humphries (to FMP Beograd) departed. Jerome Randle was re-signed after joining Sydney midway through the previous season alongside returning captain Kevin Lisch and Brad Newley, while the Kings added Andrew Bogut, Daniel Kickert (via Brisbane), David Wear (via Osaka Evessa), Deng Deng (via McKinnon – Big V), Kyle Adnam (via Melbourne) and Tom Wilson, who had spent the second half of the previous NBL season on Sydney’s training roster before playing with the Melbourne Tigers in the SEABL. Sydney also signed highly touted American prospect Brian Bowen, a McDonald’s All-American who became the first player signed under the NBL’s newly established Next Stars program as he prepared for the NBA Draft.

The former number one NBA draft pick returned to Australia after 13 seasons in the NBA, which included being selected with the first pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, earning All-NBA honours and winning the 2015 NBA championship with Golden State. His return to the NBL had initially appeared likely to come with his hometown club, Melbourne United, and he later revealed negotiations with the reigning champions had progressed to the point where he believed an agreement had been reached. According to the former NBA centre, however, United changed elements of the proposed deal after the two sides had agreed on terms, including conditions relating to the protection of league and club sponsors against his own commercial interests. He viewed the late changes as reneging on what had previously been agreed and decided not to make a counteroffer, instead allowing Melbourne’s revised contract offer to sit unanswered.

He then contacted Sydney Kings general manager Jeff Van Groningen, with whom he already had a relationship, and outlined the deal he wanted. Van Groningen flew to Melbourne to meet him and the two sides reached an agreement in principle within days. He negotiated the contract himself directly with the Kings, later saying Sydney’s willingness to recognise that he had his own commercial brand, rather than imposing the same sponsorship restrictions that had complicated the Melbourne negotiations, was an important part of reaching an agreement.

Sydney secured him on a two-year deal on April 24 which initially contained no NBA or European outs and also provided something highly unusual for an NBL player, a pathway into ownership of the franchise. As part of the agreement, he received a 10 percent interest in what the Kings described as “player shares”, which could be converted into ordinary shares once his playing career ended. The agreement also gave him the opportunity to purchase a much larger stake in the franchise, with the capacity to increase his ownership to as much as 50 percent. “I want some skin in the game, I want to see how viable this is and see where it’s going,” he said. The ownership component, together with Sydney’s plans to rebuild a club that had missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, helped secure one of the most significant signings in NBL history.

Before the regular season, Sydney travelled to Hawaii to face the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBLxNBA series on September 30, where the former NBA centre (8 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) showed his passing and rim protection against his former NBA competition. He gave Sydney an injury scare during the second quarter after colliding with Luc Mbah a Moute and limping to the bench, but returned before halftime and finished the game. Randle (25 points) and Lisch (16 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Kings, while Tobias Harris (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Danilo Gallinari (19 points) helped the Clippers pull away late for a 110-91 victory.

He made his NBL debut against Adelaide at Qudos Bank Arena on October 13, finishing with 6 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks before fouling out late as Sydney fell 94-83. Randle (28 points and 7 assists) led the Kings, while Kickert (14 points) and Bowen (13 points) also reached double figures in front of 10,761 fans. Daniel Johnson (22 points and 10 rebounds) and Nathan Sobey (21 points) led Adelaide.

Bogut (11.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 blocks across 30 games) quickly established himself as the centrepiece of Sydney’s defence while also providing the Kings with an elite passer and facilitator from the centre position. He recorded at least three blocks in each of his first five NBL games, becoming the first player in league history to achieve the feat. Early in the season he also battled back tightness after being blindsided during the Round 2 game against New Zealand, forcing him to sit out training and leaving him in doubt for games while the injury settled. Sydney later added Ray Turner (via Bendigo) to provide additional frontcourt depth while he managed his body, but he ultimately played every one of the Kings’ 28 regular-season games and both semifinals.

One of his first dominant performances came against Illawarra at Qudos Bank Arena on November 2, where Bogut (21 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) made 9-of-12 shots and led Sydney to an 86-79 victory. The performance included two highlight-reel plays where he used behind-the-back moves before attacking the basket for dunks and made him the first player in NBL history to record at least three blocks in each of his first five games. Randle (13 points), Lisch (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Newley (10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support, while Tim Coenraad (16 points and 6 rebounds), Todd Blanchfield (14 points), Brian Conklin (14 points) and Jordair Jett (14 points) led Illawarra.

⛹️‍♂️↩💥@andrewbogut ain’t messing around! #ILLatSYD #NBL19 pic.twitter.com/PtJDzkPk7c

— NBL (@NBL) November 2, 2018

One of his most complete performances came against New Zealand on November 18, when Bogut (17 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, and 2 steals) dominated both ends as Sydney defeated the Breakers 100-87 at Qudos Bank Arena. With Lisch sidelined by a jaw injury, Adnam (14 points and 3 assists) stepped into the starting lineup, while Randle (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the scoring. Shawn Long (25 points and 8 rebounds) and Patrick Richard (18 points and 5 rebounds) led New Zealand.

Bogut’s season-high scoring performance came against New Zealand in Auckland on December 9, where he had already recorded a double-double by halftime and made 11-of-15 shots to finish with 23 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks as Sydney held off the Breakers 71-70 at Spark Arena. Randle (14 points and 4 assists) provided support as the Kings survived a late New Zealand comeback and a potential game-winner from Thomas Abercrombie at the buzzer, while Jarrad Weeks (19 points), Abercrombie (18 points and 6 rebounds) and Tai Wesley (14 points and 11 rebounds) led the Breakers. The victory continued a strong mid-season run that had transformed Sydney from its 0-2 start into one of the NBL’s leading teams.

Sydney officially secured its first playoff appearance since 2013 with a 107-91 victory over Brisbane on February 3, where Bogut (13 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) recorded another double-double. Randle (26 points and 2 steals) and Lisch (21 points, 3 assists, and 5 steals) led the scoring as the Kings locked in their return to the postseason.

Sydney’s February 8 meeting with Melbourne provided another high point, with Bogut (15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) helping the Kings defeat United 97-85 and end a 10-game losing streak against the defending champions. Randle (21 points and 6 assists) and Kickert (18 points) led the scoring as Sydney moved to the top of the ladder, while Casper Ware (17 points and 5 assists) was Melbourne’s leading scorer.

Randle (17.9 points and 4.2 assists) remained Sydney’s leading scorer despite battling a lingering glute injury, while Lisch (14.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals) provided another experienced presence in the backcourt. Newley (10.8 points and 4.6 rebounds) remained a key wing contributor, Kickert (9.4 points) supplied shooting from the frontcourt, Wear (6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds) added further spacing and Bowen (6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds) showed flashes of his potential during his lone season as a Next Star.

With Randle sidelined by his glute injury for the final regular-season game against Cairns on February 16, Bogut (12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks) produced another outstanding all-around performance as Sydney defeated the Taipans 89-84 at Qudos Bank Arena. Newley (19 points and 6 rebounds) and Lisch (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) also contributed, while Melo Trimble (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Cairns. The victory completed an 18-10 regular season, giving Sydney third place and its first playoff appearance since 2013.

Bogut’s first NBL season resulted in one of the league’s most decorated individual campaigns. He led the competition in both rebounding and blocked shots and was awarded the Andrew Gaze Trophy as NBL Most Valuable Player, receiving 83 votes to finish ahead of Ware (77) and Bryce Cotton (65). He was also named the NBL’s Best Defensive Player and selected to the All-NBL First Team. “I know I’m not a top-scoring guy in every game, but I try to impact games in different ways, so I appreciate everybody who voted,” Bogut said. His influence extended beyond the box score, with his arrival helping return Sydney to the playoffs while generating renewed attention and crowds around the Kings. Before the playoffs began, Gaze confirmed he would leave Sydney at the end of the season, with Bogut describing the timing of the announcement as “not ideal” but saying the team wanted to work hard for its coach in the finals.

Sydney faced defending champion Melbourne United in the semifinals, opening the series at Melbourne Arena, where Bogut (7 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks) was limited offensively as United defeated the Kings 95-73. Newley (17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists), Randle (13 points) and Lisch (13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led Sydney, while Ware (22 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) and DJ Kennedy (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Melbourne.

Game two returned to Qudos Bank Arena, where Bogut (10 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) responded with a double-double, while Lisch (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists), Adnam (13 points) and Turner (12 points and 3 rebounds) provided support. Ware (30 points and 5 rebounds) and Chris Goulding (23 points) combined for 53 points as Melbourne defeated Sydney 90-76 and completed the semifinal sweep. More than 14,500 fans attended the game, with contemporary reports describing it as the largest NBL crowd in more than 20 years.

With Sydney’s season over, Bogut immediately attracted renewed interest from NBA contenders, including Golden State and Philadelphia. The Kings granted him permission to return to the NBA during the NBL off-season and, after receiving his clearance from Sydney, he officially signed with the Golden State Warriors on March 6 for the remainder of the 2018/19 NBA season and playoffs while remaining committed to the second year of his Sydney contract. The move reunited him with the franchise he had helped win the 2015 championship and gave him one final NBA postseason run, with Golden State reaching the NBA Finals before losing to Toronto in six games.

2019/20
After finishing the 2018/19 regular season in third place with an 18-10 record before being swept by Melbourne in the semifinals, Sydney moved on from coach Andrew Gaze and appointed Australian Boomers assistant Will Weaver as head coach. Melbourne declined to take up the optional third year of Craig Moller’s contract, allowing Moller (via Melbourne) to return to Sydney on a two-year deal, while Kevin Lisch was re-signed to a multi-year contract. Jerome Randle (to Adelaide) and David Wear (not re-signed) departed and were replaced by Casper Ware (via Melbourne) and Jae’Sean Tate (via Antwerp), while Shaun Bruce (via Adelaide) and Lucas Walker (via Cairns) were also added. Sydney also acquired Brazilian guard Didi Louzada through the NBL’s Next Stars program after his draft rights were acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans.

After winning the NBL MVP and Best Defensive Player awards in his first season with Sydney, Bogut returned to complete the second year of the two-year contract he had signed with the Kings in 2018. His preparation for the season had been unusually demanding. Following Sydney’s semifinal elimination, Bogut returned to the NBA with Golden State in March 2019 and helped the Warriors reach the NBA Finals before representing Australia at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Bogut turned his right ankle during the Boomers’ final World Cup warm-up against Germany in late August but recovered in time for the start of the NBL season.

Sydney opened the season in Cairns on October 4, where Bogut (4 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) controlled the glass as the Kings defeated the Taipans 79-71. Ware (23 points and 5 assists) and Lisch (18 points) led Sydney in scoring, while Kouat Noi (14 points and 12 rebounds) was Cairns’ best.

Bogut (8.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks across 30 games) remained Sydney’s defensive anchor and primary interior facilitator, although the physical problems that had accumulated throughout his career became increasingly difficult to manage. Back spasms prevented him from training during the week leading into Sydney’s Round 3 double against New Zealand, but Bogut was able to play in both games.

Bogut produced one of his best all-around performances of the season against New Zealand at Qudos Bank Arena on October 18, finishing with 11 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks as Sydney defeated the Breakers 96-91. Ware (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Newley (17 points and 4 rebounds) provided the main support, while Scotty Hopson (27 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led New Zealand.

Two days later Bogut backed it up in Auckland, finishing with 13 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block as Sydney completed the home-and-away sweep of New Zealand with a 76-66 victory at Spark Arena. Ware (17 points and 4 rebounds) and Tate (15 points and 6 rebounds) led the scoring around him, while Corey Webster (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) was the Breakers’ best.

Bogut’s highest-scoring game of the regular season came in Adelaide on November 2, where he finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks as Sydney defeated the 36ers 98-96 in overtime and remained unbeaten at 6-0. Louzada (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Tate (16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) provided support, while former King Randle (23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) led Adelaide.

As the season progressed Sydney became increasingly careful with Bogut’s workload. He was rested for the January 17 road game against New Zealand, then remained in Sydney and missed the February 1 trip to Perth while managing a back injury. Bogut was also unavailable against South East Melbourne on February 9 before returning for Sydney’s final regular-season game, with the Kings attempting to have him as healthy as possible for the playoffs.

Sydney’s injury problems extended beyond Bogut. Lisch (8 points across 12 games) fractured his left ankle in Round 2 and was initially ruled out for two months, leading the Kings to sign Deshon Taylor (6.6 points across 22 games) (via Adelaide) as an injury replacement. Lisch returned for two games in December before recurring ankle soreness forced him back out until February. Moller (6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds across 17 games) appeared in Sydney’s opening 11 games before a right ankle injury requiring surgery forced him to miss the next 16. Sydney also strengthened the roster on November 27 by signing Xavier Cooks (6.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 19 games) (via Würzburg) to a multi-year deal and releasing Kuany Kuany to create the roster spot.

Ware (18.2 points and 3.7 assists across 33 games) led Sydney in scoring, while Tate (17 points and 5.7 rebounds across 33 games) emerged as one of the league’s best two-way forwards and was named to the All-NBL First Team and won the Kings’ Club MVP award before later earning an NBA contract with Houston. Newley (11.7 points and 4.5 rebounds across 33 games) remained a reliable veteran presence, while Louzada (9.9 points and 3.6 rebounds across 25 games), Kickert (7.9 points across 33 games) and Bruce (7 points and 3.1 assists across 33 games) gave Weaver a deep rotation. Bogut’s offensive production had declined from his MVP season, but his rebounding, passing, screening and defensive presence remained significant enough for him to be selected alongside Ware on the All-NBL Second Team.

Bogut returned for Sydney’s final regular-season game against Illawarra on February 14 and played 18 minutes, finishing with 6 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists as the Kings won 98-82. Tate (19 points and 5 rebounds) and Ware (19 points and 3 assists) led Sydney, while Sunday Dech (26 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) was Illawarra’s best. The victory saw Sydney finish first with a 20-8 record, becoming the first team in NBL history to lead the competition from the opening round through to the end of the regular season.

Sydney opened its semifinal series against Melbourne at Qudos Bank Arena on February 29, where Bogut (3 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) helped the Kings recover from 16 points behind inside the final seven minutes to win 86-80. Tate (23 points and 5 rebounds) and Newley (17 points and 5 rebounds) led Sydney offensively, while Melo Trimble (34 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Shawn Long (23 points and 10 rebounds) were Melbourne’s best.

Game two moved to Melbourne Arena, where Bogut (2 rebounds and 1 assist) was held scoreless in 15 minutes as United overwhelmed Sydney 125-80. Tate (18 points and 6 rebounds) and Louzada (10 points and 3 steals) led the Kings, while Long (26 points and 11 rebounds) and Trimble (21 points) powered Melbourne to a 45-point victory and forced a deciding game three.

Game three returned to Qudos Bank Arena on March 5, where Bogut produced 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal while making all four of his field-goal attempts as Sydney defeated Melbourne 89-87 and advanced to its first Grand Final since 2008. Tate (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) and Ware (15 points and 4 rebounds) led the Kings, while Chris Goulding (19 points) and Mitch McCarron (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks) were Melbourne’s best.

The Grand Final opened at Qudos Bank Arena on March 8, where Bogut (18 points and 12 rebounds) produced one of his strongest performances of the season but Perth escaped with an 88-86 victory. Lisch (17 points) provided the main support for Sydney, while Bryce Cotton (32 points) and Nick Kay (14 points) led the Wildcats.

The series then became intertwined with the rapidly escalating COVID-19 pandemic. With leagues around the world shutting down and concerns growing around interstate travel and international players being able to return to their families, Bogut initiated a players-only meeting before game two so Sydney’s players could openly discuss their concerns without coaches or management present.

Game two was played without the general public at RAC Arena on March 13, where Bogut produced his highest-scoring game of the season with 19 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal as Sydney responded with a 97-83 victory. Tate (20 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Lisch (19 points) helped the Kings level the series, while Cotton (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kay (17 points and 7 rebounds) led Perth.

Game three returned to Sydney on March 15 and was also played behind closed doors. Bogut (8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and the Kings fell 111-96 as Perth moved ahead 2-1 in the series. Tate (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Newley (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Sydney, while Cotton (31 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists) combined for 61 points for Perth.

With the COVID-19 situation worsening by the day, Sydney’s players, coaches and management met again before the scheduled fourth game, with an independent medical specialist also involved in the discussions. Bogut later revealed that he entered the meeting in favour of continuing the series, but concerns surrounding player welfare, interstate travel and particularly Sydney’s international players being able to return to their families overseas changed the mood of the group. The Kings ultimately reached a near-unanimous position that withdrawing was the safest option and informed the NBL that they would not continue the Grand Final series.

The remaining games were cancelled and Perth, which held a 2-1 series lead, was subsequently awarded the championship, while Cotton was named Grand Final MVP after averaging 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across the three games. Bogut made clear that he had no issue with Perth being recognised as champion but was critical of the process and communication surrounding the end of the series, arguing that players had been placed in an extremely difficult position as the pandemic rapidly overtook the competition.

On May 25, Bogut announced that he would not sign with Sydney or any other professional team for the time being because the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 made committing to another season impossible, while stressing that the announcement was not his retirement. The physical problems he had managed throughout his final NBL season ultimately proved more significant. Bogut underwent two operations during 2020, one to remove a bone spur from his ankle and another to relieve sciatica in his lower back. Although the procedures left him relatively pain free, the accumulated toll of his injuries prevented him from preparing for another professional season.

On December 1, Bogut announced his retirement from professional basketball at the age of 36. He had originally hoped to continue through the postponed Tokyo Olympics before retiring, but concluded that his body could no longer handle the preparation required. “I can’t physically and mentally get to 2021 with the way the body has been,” Bogut said.

The ownership component negotiated when Bogut originally signed with Sydney also ensured his relationship with the Kings continued beyond his playing career. In May 2021, Bogut formally joined the club’s ownership group with a 10 percent stake, moving from the centrepiece of Sydney’s on-court rebuild into a role helping shape the franchise off the court.

Andrew Bogut played two seasons the Sydney Kings. He averaged 9.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3 assists in 60 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 27th in blocks per game.