Golden State Warriors big man Andrew Bogut’s career is closer to the end than that beginning. He’s entering his 10th season in the NBA after the Australian seven-footer was selected first overall in the 2005 NBA Draft.
His style of being a big who works well in the post to get his shots, excelling on the defensive end, primarily being a rim protector has worked throughout his career, until recently.
When the Warriors were down two games to one in the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, something was wrong. The team that went the entire season as the best squad in the NBA looked a little lost. That’s when a change was made taking Bogut out of the starting lineup and substituting Andre Iguodala to go with a smaller starting five.
Bogut was essentially never seen again in the NBA Finals and the Warriors went on to win the next three games to win the NBA title.
Now the tide in the NBA is changing, moving away from the veteran big man and his style. What that means for his immediate future in the NBA and the Warriors may be up in the air if a shift is fully made to a new style but Bogut doesn’t seem worried. It appears he does have a backup plan.
Following from ABC Grandstand Sport in Australia.
The 30-year-old centre still has two years left on his contract with the championship-winning Golden State Warriors, but is open to finishing his career back home.
“Definitely a pipe dream, fairytale story, would be to play a season in Australia before I retire,” Bogut said ahead of the Boomers’ 2016 Olympic qualifying series against New Zealand.
“But it all depends on the body and how that feels, and at what age and mindset I’m in.
“I definitely wouldn’t see anything wrong with coming back here and trying to help the game that brought a lot to me and my life.”
But he says those possible plans are still a long way off.
“My main goal right now is play out the two years on my Golden State deal, get to Rio and see what we can do there,” he said.
“Then I’ll re-evaluate whether I push on for a couple more years in the NBA, or whatever.”
Bogut is just the latest player to be linked to playing his final days overseas. Recently, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol were linked to possibly join forces in Spain but Pau quickly shot those rumors down.
When Bogut’s contract with the Warriors is up, this subject can be revisited for sure but this also might be a strong indication of two things. The NBA game is getting better and more globalized, so even if Bogut does go to Australia in the twilight of his career, he’ll be welcomed with open arms. On the flipside, if Bogut does find himself down under, it might mean the NBA has entered a new era of basketball, one that ultimately eliminates a player with his skills.
10 years ago, a player like Bogut was in high demand. A guy who can protect the rim, score at the rim and be effective in the pick and roll on offense and defense. Andrew’s career has taken some monumental twists and turns and at one point, people were annointing him as the next big bust in the NBA due his numerous injuries but he found a way to turn it around and achieve some great milestones. His career in the NBA has been resurgent as of late but how much does he have left to offer as he get older and slower and the NBA game gets younger and faster?
