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SYDNEY, Australia – Australian center Andrew Bogut announced his retirement from professional basketball.
The 36-year-old, who led his country to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup title in 2003, but fell short of the podium with the Boomers at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and the Copa del FIBA Basketball World 2019 in China, had initially planned to stop playing after the Tokyo Olympics.
However, that became less likely due to the coronavirus pandemic, which led to the Summer Games being postponed until next year.
“I can’t physically and mentally get to 2021 with the way my body has been,” Bogut revealed on his “Rogue Bogues” podcast. “I mean, I could, with a lot of painkillers and a lot of physical and mental anguish, but it’s just not worth it at this point in my career.”
Brian Goorjian, Australia’s newly appointed coach, who brought Bogut to the national team in 2004 during his first spell at the helm of the Boomers, said: “He is a revered and iconic Boomer and although he would have loved to join the team in Tokyo. , his decision to walk away is selfless in many ways … his body has taken its toll, he knows it. “
Bogut will always be remembered as the first Australian player to be selected as the first overall pick in the NBA Draft when the Milwaukee Bucks selected him in 2005.
He had to overcome numerous injuries in the NBA and it seemed like the championship trophy would elude him, but late in his career, he joined the Golden State Warriors and captured the title in 2015.
“I THINK THAT WHAT ANDREW DOES NOT GET ENOUGH CREDIT IS HIS WILLINGNESS TO PLAY THROUGH PAIN.
“I loved coaching him with the Warriors,” said Golden State coach Steve Kerr. “He was one of the best defensive centers in the league, a brilliant passer, a great teammate and champion.”
For the past two seasons, Bogut played at home in Australia. He dressed for Sydney and was the 2019 National Basketball League MVP.
With Australia, Bogut played 80 times and competed in three Olympic Games and two FIBA Basketball World Cups. Under the guidance of coach Andrej Lemanis at the Rio Games and the World Cup in China, Bogut was only seconds away from finishing in the top three.
Spain topped the Boomers, 89-88, in the Bronze Medal Game in Brazil, and last year came back to defeat Australia, 95-88, in the Semifinals after two overtimes. Bogut and company then fell to France in the battle for third place.
Lemanis praised Bogut’s toughness and commitment.
“I think Andrew doesn’t get enough credit for his willingness to play despite the pain,” he said. “I’ve experienced countless times firsthand where Andrew would have found it easy to miss a game or practice, but he understands, understands that for teams to be successful you have to be prepared for sacrifice, and that’s why he found a way to go ahead”. cut and help your team to be better. The positive difference it made in the group was obvious. He is a true champion and legend of Australian basketball. “
FIBA
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