Andrew Bogut claims Opals star Liz Cambage is using mental health as an excuse

Former NBA champion Andrew Bogut has weighed in on Liz Cambage’s shock Olympics withdrawal, claiming she is using mental health as an excuse.

Former NBA champion Andrew Bogut has spoken out about Opals star Liz Cambage’s last-minute withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health challenges.

On Friday, the basketball star made a shock announcement, revealing she would be withdrawing from the games after an altercation during a warm-up game against Nigeria.

The 29-year-old told fans she was at “breaking point” and had struggled to sleep and eat consistently over the past month, and had also been suffering panic attacks.

Her behaviour had reportedly upset her teammates and officials, with the team reportedly discussing kicking her out of the squad just days before the games.

NBA champion and Olympic commentator Andrew Bogut has weighed in on the situation and claimed Cambage’s mental health issues do not excuse her behaviour.

RELATED: Sport commentators’ damning two words for Cambage

Opals star Liz Cambage has made a shock withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Supplied

“Having mental health issues does not mean you cannot be criticised,” he said.

“Poor behaviour and engaging in poor team culture can be a separate issue from mental health.

“Yes, one’s behaviour can be erratic when facing a mental health battle, but this does not give you permission to behave in the way Liz reportedly has.’

He additionally claimed that the star’s mental health issues were not the main reason for her Olympics withdrawal.

“I believe her withdrawal from the Olympics, in my opinion, is the repercussions of her behaviour,” Bogut said.

It comes after Cambage reportedly broke the team’s biosecurity bubble by going out in Las Vegas, with her teammates and officials unable to locate her. A report she has denied.

On Saturday morning, Cambage uploaded a video to her social media, and confirmed reports of her altercation with the Nigerian team.

RELATED: Opals star Liz Cambage is out of the Tokyo Olympics

Former basketball champion Andrew Bogut has weighed in on Cambage’s shock exit. Picture: Adam Yip

“This decision has been a few days in the making but I’ve been at breaking point for a month or so now,” she told fans online.

“I’m pretty annoyed at all the fake news and the lies I’m seeing floating around in news articles and being shown and being asked about.

“I just want to say this decision was coming and I’m happy I finally made it on my own terms. It’s sad that news got leaked yesterday that I didn’t even know about.

“Yeah, things got heated in the Nigeria game. There was a physical altercation and there were words exchanged but I’m hearing things that aren’t true at all, flying around from people in Australia and America which is crazy.”

She firmly denied reports she had broken the team’s bubble by partying in Las Vegas.

“I’m seeing reports I went out partying. S***, I wish I did! I know some of the people in Vegas have been having a really good time this week. But I’ve been in here, bro,” she said.

‘I’ve been in here. And the only time I left this goddamn bubble was for the All-Star game.”

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Liz Cambage speaks to her fans on Instagram. Picture: Instagram

Australian basketball star Liz Cambage as seen in Instagram posts from Las Vegas, Nevada. Picture: Instagram

Speaking further on her decision to withdraw from the games, Cambage said she feared being isolated in Tokyo due to covid restrictions.

“At the thought of going into one of the most high-pressure situations, that is already in a bubble. With no fans, no friends. I’ve never played without fans,” she said.

“The main reason I sat out the WNBA last season was my mental health. I’m not OK in a bubble. I’m not OK playing in front of no fans.”

However sport commentator Peter FitzSimons said the star’s revelation was telling.

“One thing that surprises me is where she says, ‘on the road, no family, no friends’. It surprises me that in an international team, all those women that she’s been playing with must have come up through the ranks with her in Australian basketball,” he said on Channel 9’s Sport Sunday.

“It surprises me she doesn’t have very close friends in the team.”

On Friday evening, former SEM Phoenix assistant coach Ian Stacker tweeted: “Mental health is a significant issue for our community. Every time a sports star or celebrity uses ‘mental health’ as an excuse for deplorable behaviour totally frustrates those dealing with real issues.”

Bogut retweeted Sacker’s post with the caption: “Amen.”

Cambage wished her teammates “nothing but the best of luck in Tokyo” and hoped they could win gold for Australia.