Andrew Bogut believes NBA-NBL experiment will deliver NBA game Down Under
AFTER getting his first taste of the NBA versus NBL experiment, star Sydney Kings recruit Andrew Bogut believes the concept is ready to take the next step.
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AFTER helping the Sydney Kings push his old foes the Los Angeles Clippers, Andrew Bogut says the next step is an NBA game on Australian soil.
Bogut thoroughly enjoyed his maiden NBL versus NBA experience as the Kings won plenty of admirers with a courageous display in defeat.
Apart from Perth’s 60-point loss to Utah earlier this week, Australian teams have performed admirably against NBA rivals since the pre-season series’ inception last year.
A number of NBL teams have won quarters against their American rivals while Melbourne United came within one basket of beating a star-studded Oklahoma City Thunder last year.
Bogut believes the NBL versus NBA concept has a future but he says the ultimate aim is to host a pre-season clash in Australia.
“That is the goal of all of this I’d presume,” Bogut said.
“It is to yes please, yes thank you the NBA for a couple of years and hopefully we’ll be rewarded with a game on Australian soil.
“That is not the USA team - that is Philly playing Melbourne in Melbourne or whatever it is.
“That would be sensational for the game. Hopefully (this series) is a momentum builder for that.
EXUM: NBL-NBA can only help Aussie game
“Obviously Perth didn’t help us out with that a few nights ago, no disrespect to them – they had a stinker.
“And you have those but we did a better job and hopefully the rest of the teams – including Perth in their next game against Denver can keep it competitive and the NBA look at us as a viable product for the future.”
Bogut hopes the NBL’s pre-season clashes in America continue, although he expects the NBA to expand to other countries in the coming years.
For now, the veteran Boomer couldn’t be prouder of his Kings following a strong effort against the Clippers.
“I think for three and a half quarters we were great,” he said.
“It is a credit to the team. You don’t see many NBA teams put their starters back into the game in the fourth quarter.
“They did and they were trying to win the game. Most teams that I’ve been a part of in the NBA, you first, second and third games of pre-season you’d probably play your starters 15 or 16 minutes.
“I’m not judging the score at all, but in the last six minutes we kind of went into tunnel vision and a bit individual at times and our defence wasn’t what it was in the first three quarters.
“But I thought for the first three quarters we were sensational. Everyone out there was committed to being physical and talking and I think it was a good step towards two games against Adelaide in two weeks.
“It was a big step for us.”
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