Andrew Bogut certain pick for Boomers’ Olympic squad, faces race against time to be fit for Rio

BOOMERS coach Andrej Lemanis has guaranteed injured star Andrew Bogut will be picked in the Australian squad, giving the towering centre 30 days to be ready for Rio.

Andrew Bogut is headed for the Dallas Mavericks. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

NEWLY traded NBA star Andrew Bogut is certain to be selected in next week’s Boomers squad then given 30 more days to recover from injury.

Bogut was with the 16-man Boomers squad which started a nine-day camp in Melbourne yesterday as he works back from extensive knee bone bruising.

The 31-year-old was yesterday thrown a curve ball when traded from Golden State to the Dallas Mavericks, but is determined to make the Olympics despite his injury.

Boomer coach Andrej Lemanis told the Herald Sun yesterday nations could make injury replacements up until the day Olympic basketball starts.

It means Bogut, a defensive colossus who is also integral to Australia’s offensive setup, will make the 12-man squad announced next Monday.

Then he will be given every chance to suit up on August 6 Rio time against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

“My understanding is you can name a team of 12 and replace people for injury reasons up until basically the Olympics start, when you submit your team list,’’ Lemanis said.

“He is very realistic in terms of putting the hard work in and seeing how it progresses. We all hope for the best but understand it may not happen.

“He is smart enough to understand you cannot force these things and push them.

“The (medicos says) everyone is different, it is just how it responds. He is here putting in the rehab and it’s responding well but there is still a long way to go.”

Andrew Bogut suffered a knee injury while playing in the NBA Finals, putting his Olympic campaign in jeopardy. Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s men’s team, which has never won an Olympic medal, is still stacked with talent and regarded as the best in the nation’s history.

NBA title-winners Matthew Dellavedova and Patrick Mills will push the ball up the floor, Detroit’s Aron Baynes can replace Bogut at centre, and Russian-based Ryan Broekhoff is a lethal three-point shooter.

Utah Jazz small forward Joe Ingles, Chicago Bulls power forward Cam Bairstow and Europe based forward/centre David Anderson illustrate the depth of the elite talent.

Lemanis acknowledges the Boomers will play a different style depending on Bogut’s availability but says they can win with or without him.

“That’s the beauty of where we are with Australian basketball. We have tremendous depth, we are able to feel comfortable that if he’s unavailable we still have the team that can play a certain style that can have success.

“If he is available it changes the way we play a little bit and that also gives us an opportunity for success.”

Ingles is hopeful his twins due with wife Renae will arrive before the team leaves for an Olympic training camp in mid-July.

“I think she is due at the end of camp and if it all goes to plan that’s fantastic,’’ Lemanis said.

“It’s a situation we can’t control so we will deal with the circumstances as they unfold.”

The Boomers will play two games against the PAC 12 college all-stars at Hisense Arena on July 12 and 14.

Originally published as Andrew Bogut certain pick for Boomers’ Olympic squad, faces race against time to be fit for Rio