Sydney Kings CEO says the franchise would happily extend Andrew Bogut’s contract
The Kings have expressed a desire to extend Andrew Bogut’s stay in Sydney as the former NBA big man continues his debut NBL campaign at a record-breaking pace.
The Sydney Kings have expressed a desire to extend Andrew Bogut’s stay in the Harbour City as he continues his debut NBL campaign at a record-breaking pace.
Bogut has been the catalyst behind the Kings’ push into third place on the ladder with seven wins from their opening 11 games.
Ahead of Friday’s clash with the Wildcats in Perth, where they will look to extend their three-game winning streak against their bitter rivals, Kings acting CEO Paul Kind says the franchise would happily extend 34-year-old Bogut’s two-year deal if the former NBA champion wants to prolong his career.
It comes as Bogut is on track to become the first player in NBL history to average more than 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks per game.
“If Andrew wants to play longer at the Sydney Kings, he can play for as long as he felt he was able to play at the level he wants to play at,” Kind said.
“You take Andrew for his worth. I think he would be a very good judge of his ability to progress or call it quits.
“The only person’s advice I’d take on that is Andrew Bogut.
“But from our point of view, he’d be welcome to play for as long as he wanted to.
“We’d be more than happy to have him.”
Bogut’s current record-setting stat line is even more impressive that it had not even been achieved in the 48-minute NBL game era dating back 40 seasons.
But Bogut has been a standout for Sydney this season, breaking several longstanding marks.
Against the New Zealand Breakers last Sunday he became the second player in NBL history to record 20 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in less than 31 minutes of playing time.
That hasn’t been achieved since Geelong centre John Dorge had 21 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in a game against Newcastle in 1990.
Remarkably, Dorge and Bogut both achieved their respective double-doubles in exactly the same amount of time — 30 minutes and 41 seconds.
Kings general manager of basketball Jeff van Groningen has worked with some of Australia’s best big men, including four-time Olympian Ray Borner at Geelong and three-time NBL champion Mark Bradtke at the Melbourne Tigers and the Brisbane Bullets.
But he says Bogut stands at the top.
“I’ve seen three of the most dominant big men of their era but the things that Bogut is doing on the floor from a big man point of view, I’ve never seen before,” he said.
“It is his versatility offensively and his absolutely unparalleled passing ability.
“That is something that is wonderful for this league and it is very good for our team.
“We are getting a glimpse into a world-class passer at the five spot.
“Andrew is not just a willing passer, he is a highly skilled passer and his vision is wide and he is always thinking a step ahead.
“We are only just getting an understanding of what that can do for us as a collective.
“The statistics certainly back up how good Bogut is.
“But the eyeball test to me says that the league hasn’t seen anything like this before.”
Meanwhile, Kind revealed the Sydney Kings’ round 10 home blockbuster against defending champions Melbourne United is on track to attract the franchise’s biggest single-game attendance.
The Kings’ record single-game crowd is 11,005 against United in the final home game of the 2016/17 season.
“We are on track break 11,000, which is a testament to not only what Andrew Bogut is bringing but what he is bringing to the team and what the team is doing around him,” he said.
“Andrew takes the whole league and certainly the Kings’ brand to a completely different audience.
“He has got that global popularity that frankly no one else in the league goes near.
“He also gives us great, honest feedback about how the Sydney Kings are travelling as a professional franchise and we value that.
“He is able to give insight from 13 seasons in the biggest league in the world and we are all better for that.”
LEADING REBOUNDERS IN LAST DECADE: (40 MINUTE NBL)
11.8 — Andrew Bogut (Kings) 2018/19*
10.8 — Julian Khazzouh (Kings) 2012
10.0 — Julian Khazzouh (Kings) 2011
9.3 — Daniel Johnson (36ers) 2016
9.3 — Josh Boone (United) 2017
9.2 — Josh Childress (Kings) 2015
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