Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut was born on the 28th of November 1984 in Melbourne, Australia. His parents, Michael and Anne, had immigrated to the country from Croatia during the 1970s. His father came from Osijek while his mother hailed from Karlovac. As a child, he played Australian rules football and tennis alongside basketball. He patterned his early game after Toni Kukoč, a Croatian NBA player who spent most of the 1990s with the Chicago Bulls. At age 15, Bogut suffered a significant setback when he was cut from the Victoria junior state representative team. This rejection sparked a period of intense improvement under the guidance of Siniša Marković, a professional basketball player from Yugoslavia. His emergence into the spotlight began only after earning a roster spot with the Australian Institute of Sport in 2002.
Bogut played college basketball for two years with the Utah Utes starting in the 2003, 04 season. As a freshman, he averaged 12.5 points and 9.9 rebounds across 33 games. The following year, as a sophomore in 2004, 05, he started all 35 games for the Utes. They finished with a 29, 6 record and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He led the nation with 26 double-doubles during that campaign. Bogut scored in double figures in 37 consecutive games dating back to the final two games of his freshman year. He ranked 19th in the NCAA in scoring at 20.4 points per game and second in rebounding at 12.2 rebounds per game. He became one of 31 Utah players to score 1,000 career points but just the third to reach that mark in two seasons. He was named national player of the year by ESPN.com and Basketball Times in 2005. He also earned the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year honours.
Bogut was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. This made him the first Australian player ever drafted number one overall. As a rookie in 2005, 06, he earned All-Rookie First Team honours and finished third in votes for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He played in all 82 regular season games for the Bucks that year, averaging 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. His second season was cut short after he sprained his left foot and was placed on injured reserve for the final 15 games. He had previously played in 153 consecutive games before this injury. In the 2007, 08 season, Bogut set career-highs in points at 14.3 and rebounds at 9.8. He tallied a career-high 29 points against the Phoenix Suns in December. That same month, he finished ninth in the NBA in blocks and 11th in rebounding. In the 2008 offseason, Bogut signed a five-year, $60 million extension to stay with the team through the 2013, 14 season.
Bogut appeared in just 36 games for the Bucks during the 2008, 09 season due to a stress fracture in his lower back. He missed the final 31 games of that campaign. More time on the sidelines followed during the 2009, 10 season because of a strained ligament and bruise in his left leg. On the 3rd of April 2010, near the end of a breakout season, Bogut suffered a major injury during a game against the Phoenix Suns at the Bradley Center. As he went up for a fast break attempt, Amar'e Stoudemire made contact causing him to lose balance. He hung onto the rim briefly but could not right himself and fell at an awkward angle. Placing his right arm out to break the fall, Bogut landed with all weight on top of his wrist. His arm twisted as he landed. The next day, doctors diagnosed him with a broken hand, dislocated elbow, and sprained wrist. These injuries kept him out for the remainder of the 2009, 10 season. Despite this, he finished with averages of 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.
On the 13th of March 2012, Bogut and Stephen Jackson were traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown. According to the Warriors, he underwent surgery in April to clean out loose particles and bone spurs in his ankle. He sat out the entire 2012, 13 preseason before playing four of the first five regular season games. He averaged just 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds during that brief return. He was then declared out indefinitely while receiving Regenokine treatment to aid recovery. It was revealed later that his procedure in April involved more serious microfracture surgery than previously thought. Bogut returned on the 28th of January 2013 recording 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 blocks in a road win over the Toronto Raptors. On the 7th of April 2015, he recorded 8 points and a career-high 9 blocks in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Bogut and the Warriors won the 2015 NBA Finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.
On the 24th of April 2018, Bogut signed a two-year deal with the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League. At the conclusion of the 2018, 19 regular season, Bogut was named the NBL Most Valuable Player. He averaged 11.6 points per game along with 329 rebounds, 98 assists, and 77 blocked shots. He was also named Best Defensive Player and earned All-NBL First Team honours. He helped the Kings reach the playoffs with an 18, 10 record and a third-place finish before losing 2, 0 to Melbourne United in the semi-finals. In 30 total games, he averaged 11.4 points, a league-high 11.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 blocks in 29.7 minutes per game. Following the 2018, 19 NBL season, Bogut signed back with the Warriors for the remainder of that year's NBA campaign. His deal with the Warriors was allowed by the Kings on the condition that he honoured the second year of his two-year contract.
Bogut rejoined the Sydney Kings for the 2019, 20 NBL season and helped them win the minor premiership with a first-place finish and a 20, 8 record. He was named to the All-NBL Second Team during this stint. On the 25th of May 2020, Bogut announced that he would not be re-signing with the Kings. He had two surgeries in 2020, one to remove a bone spur in his ankle and another to help with sciatica in his lower back. On the 1st of December 2020, Bogut announced his retirement from basketball citing numerous injury issues as the main reason. In May 2025, Bogut was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame becoming the ninth Australian to be honored. On the 12th of March 2025, Bogut was appointed as an assistant coach of the Sydney Kings for the 2025, 26 NBL season.
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Common questions
When and where was Andrew Bogut born?
Andrew Michael Bogut was born on the 28th of November 1984 in Melbourne, Australia. His parents immigrated to the country from Croatia during the 1970s.
What college team did Andrew Bogut play for before entering the NBA draft?
Andrew Bogut played college basketball for two years with the Utah Utes starting in the 2003, 04 season. He earned national player of the year honors by ESPN.com and Basketball Times in 2005.
Which team selected Andrew Bogut as the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft?
The Milwaukee Bucks selected Andrew Bogut with the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. This made him the first Australian player ever drafted number one overall.
How many points per game did Andrew Bogut average during his 2018, 19 NBL season with the Sydney Kings?
Andrew Bogut averaged 11.6 points per game during the 2018, 19 regular season with the Sydney Kings. He also recorded 329 rebounds, 98 assists, and 77 blocked shots across 30 total games.
When did Andrew Bogut announce his retirement from professional basketball?
On the 1st of December 2020, Andrew Bogut announced his retirement from basketball citing numerous injury issues as the main reason. He had undergone two surgeries that year to address a bone spur in his ankle and sciatica in his lower back.