“With the first pick in the 2005 NBA draft the Milwaukee’s Bucks select Andrew Bogut from the University of Utah.”
After completing a stellar College career (Naismith Player of the Year) was selected ahead of Chris Paul at number four and immediately hailed as the “Wonder from Down Under” for the ailing Bucks franchise.
Bogut’s career then saw him play for four other NBA teams, becoming an NBA champion and a member of the all-defensive second team with Golden State in 2015.
Recently Draymond Green told the media about the impact playing alongside Bogut had on his career.
“I wouldn’t be the defender I am without Bogut. He taught me a ton. Angles. How to guard the post. You name it, he taught me a ton.”
Bogut’s impact on the league, be it via helping teammates or collection hardware is impressive, but in hindsight so is the list of injuries he sustained in the NBA.
· Strained leg ligaments
· Lower back stress fracture
· Broken hand, dislocated elbow and sprained wrist
· Fractured ankle
· Surgery to remove floating particles and bone spurs
· Left knee sprains
· Right knee sprains
· Hyper-extended knee and deep bone bruising
· Fractured ribs
· Torn and strained hamstrings
· Broken left leg (tibia)
The one thing which has perhaps hindered him from accomplishing more than he has is his body type. He’s huge, he’s heavy, and with him being last listed at 213cm and around 120 kg adds he becomes a much higher injury risk than the average 190cm, 90kg basketball player.
Bogut is open about the fact he had his best season when he cut out sugars, dropped weight and played lean. This is a clear testament to the fact his weight and sheer size lends itself to lower back and knee or leg injuries, of which he has plenty.
He’s missed almost 200 NBA games in his career. Since June 2016 he’s played just over 50 NBA games, half a dozen Olympic Games and a handful of qualifiers which to be honest is probably in his favour, stress wise.
Bogut’s role with the Sydney Kings seems to be for his off court pulling power and persona as much as it is for his on court talents. But how much will he bring them on the court?
Plenty. No matter what, Bogut will rebound, he is a willing and exceptional passer – big hands, size, and great vision – and due to his injuries – has developed a wonderful touch around the basket with his left hand.
Albeit his free throw shooting however, is woeful. He constantly steps over the line when he shoots it and I’d be surprised if he ends up anywhere near 50%. Hack-a-Bogut anyone?
Another thing I expect to see on NBL highlights this year are many behind the back passes, at least one through the legs, and a few over the head channelling his inner Larry Bird. I actually wouldn’t be surprised if he led the Kings in assists this season – court time and injuries permitting.
Defensively he will make everyone better – including the Coaching staff. He is the King of setting (alleged) illegal, and chippy screens – google even has videos of the big man wiping out unsuspecting defenders with his legs, back and elbows. He is a master of extending his screens by rolling to the basket and wiping out naïve defenders.
“Do we set hard screens? Yeah, we put pressure on the officials. They call us for moving screens. I’ve been called for many moving screens. Then we adjust” Bogut said about his defensive tactics whilst at Golden State.
Look out NBL. Here comes Mr. Bogut! He is also a presence at the rim and will change and block shots thrown up by foolish guards looking to make a name for themselves by scoring on him.
The Kings coaching staff are bringing him along slowly. They’ve already been public about his minutes restriction (20 per game) in the preseason but if I was them, I’d cap that at 25 minutes for the entire season. His chances of going injury free are very low and I’d also be resting him on any close games (2 or 3 day breaks) or big travel games after close fixtures.
They have a stacked roster this year and any blowouts or big leads going into the fourth, he needs to sit. Last season the Kings played 28 games in just over four months with half a dozen games on 2 or 3 days’ rest. The shorter season will mean less training’s for Bogut (good) but the travel (bad) won’t help – Cairns, Perth and NZ are the worst.
This year they play half a dozen preseason games including two against Melbourne United in Bendigo (30 August) and the State Basketball Centre in Knox (1 September) before heading into a NBA clash v the Clippers in Hawaii on the 30th of September.
He will only play 3 or 4 of those and they also have 10 games this next season on only 2/3 days’ rest. Hopefully the Kings manage Bogut well (he is notoriously competitive) sit him at the front of the plane and let him rest when his body demands it.
Optimistically Australian NBL fans get to see one of our greatest players and exports in more than just a handful of games this season.
As a great Coach once told me, “it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.” If the Kings want to be the last team standing next year, they need a healthy and contributing Andrew Bogut not only off the floor, but on it as well.