Andrew Bogut slams Brisbane Bullets over Nathan Sobey comments in wake of South East Melbourne arrival
Former Boomers and NBA star Andrew Bogut has hit out at the controversial comments made by Brisbane coach Justin Schueller about departed Bullet Nathan Sobey.
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Sydney Kings minority owner Andrew Bogut has weighed into the controversial comments made by Brisbane coach Justin Schueller about departed Bullet Nathan Sobey, labelling the remarks “very poor” and “horrendous”.
Schueller shocked the basketball fraternity when he took to radio to publicly criticise Sobey following his decision to leave the Bullets for the South East Melbourne Phoenix on a two-year deal.
The Brisbane mentor intimated the club’s leading scorer didn’t fit with its revamped culture and questioned his habits.
“Collectively we felt like we needed to continue to lean into bringing winners into the club and how we can continue to grow in that space,” Schueller said.
“We can’t shy away from Nathan’s production, but we also know that there are other areas at both ends of the floor that we need to improve.”
Bogut believes Schueller’s comments about Sobey were out of line and could come back to bite the Bullets in their pursuit of free agents like Breakers star Will McDowell-White.
“I think it’s horrendous,” Bogut said.
“No matter what you think Sobey, he was your guy and your No.1 guy.
“If I’m a NBL player or a star player I’m looking at that (and thinking) do I want to sign in Brisbane for a year or two?
“McDowell-White. Do you want to sign in Brisbane right now, knowing that if you have a bad season your coach is going to throw you under the bus.
“This is a conversation you have in your boardroom.
“We want to bring winners here, we want a better culture. You’re basically saying that Sobey was bad for your culture and he wasn’t a winner.
“That’s pretty ****** up.
“If you’re going to say that, have the balls to call him out, but in a league with 10 teams there are only a handful of marquee Australian players.
“This is not a good thing and I just think it is very poor.”
Asked about Schueller’s comments, Sobey exclusively told Code Sports: “I don’t agree with it and I think it’s pretty average, but I’ll let my basketball do the talking.”
“You don’t expect that, being a pretty long-time servant of the club and always trying to improve every way I can, individually and as a team. It’s disappointing to see stuff like that.
“That’s not what I’m about, throwing people under the bus.”
‘PRETTY AVERAGE’: SOBEY HITS BACK AFTER COACH’S PARTING SHOT
—Michael Randall
Star South East Melbourne recruit Nathan Sobey has hit back at Brisbane coach Justin Schueller after his parting shot at the long-serving Bullets’ three-time club MVP.
After Sobey worked with the two clubs to negotiate a buyout of the final year of his contract to allow him to join the Phoenix, Schueller took to Queensland radio SENQ, intimating the club’s leading scorer didn’t fit with its revamped culture and questioning his habits.
Asked about his former coach’s comments, Sobey exclusively told Code Sports: “I don’t agree with it and I think it’s pretty average, but I’ll let my basketball do the talking.”
“You don’t expect that, being a pretty long-time servant of the club and always trying to improve every way I can, individually and as a team. It’s disappointing to see stuff like that.
“That’s not what I’m about, throwing people under the bus.”
The 33-year-old said a number of basketball figures had reached out in the wake of the comments, which were slammed by former Boomers Chris Anstey and Mark Worthington on their podcast Hasbeen Hoops.
“I appreciate the people who have reached out checking in and having conversations over it after it came out,” the Boomers Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist said.
“He’s (Schueller) reached out since but, at the end of the day, the words were said.
“I’m not really too fussed about it anymore, it was said, I don’t agree with it and I’ll just move forward and let the basketball do the talking.
“It’s just one person’s opinion, really.”
MY MATE CREEKY AND A POTENT AUSSIE PAIRING
The two-year deal with the Phoenix — the second a mutual option — will reunite Sobey with his former Adelaide teammate Mitch Creek.
He and Creek helped take the 36ers all the way to game five of the 2018 NBL grand final and they’ve remained close in the ensuing years.
“I’m super pumped to get back on the floor with him, we’ve kept a friendship and we talk a fair bit over the years,” Sobey said.
“We still haven’t played together but we’re checking all the time, we have the same agency (Mogul) as well, so we’re always trying to help each other out as much as we can.
“He’s a very tough player on the floor and he can score in all different ways and being able to help him out as much as he can and him help me, it’s going to be pretty exciting.”
That’s if Creek is in the Heartland next season. He’s dispelled any rumours of playing for another NBL team, but hasn’t hidden his desire for a big payday in China, where he is currently playing on a short-term contract.
Sobey’s level-headed about the uncertainty.
“He’s one of those guys that makes people around him better and that’s a big reason why I want to play with him and that’s the reason why he might have options overseas,” Sobey said.
“It is one of those weird situations where you’re sitting there hoping he does get a big pay cheque but, at the same time, if you don’t, ‘I’m ready to go with ya’.
Creek has shouldered a heavy leadership, minutes and scoring burden over the past five years — Sobey can help with all of that.
In the 40-minute era, Creek (4779) and Sobey (3882) are fourth and sixth in scoring and, last season, they were second and fourth in scoring average — and the only two Aussies to average 20ppg. Each was named to the All-NBL second team last season and they’ll form the most-potent local pairing in the NBL.
“I’ll come in and help him shoulder that load,” Sobey said.
“Any way I can help that and take a lot of that pressure off him, I’m all in.”
Sobey’s arrival triggers a refocus for the Phoenix under new general manager of basketball Simon Mitchell on recruiting quality Australian talent. Sydney dual-champions Angus Glover and Jordan Hunter are on the way and the club has pushed hard for free agent point guard William McDowell-White and has an interest in Mangok Mathiang.
Mitchell welcomed Sobey to the club and said he was excited to work with the seasoned guard.
“It’s a great coup to have Nathan come across and his experience and leadership will be paramount to our plans in NBL25,” Mitchell said.
“Above all, we look forward to the Heartland embracing Nathan, his wife CC and his two children as we gain momentum heading into the new campaign.”
COMING HOME AND RECONNECTING WITH A MENTOR
The Warrnambool native is eager to play for a pro team in his home state, closer to family and friends, for the first time since he left for college in 2010.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to be close to home and having two kids now gave me even more reason to move back,” the father of two said.
“My whole family’s still here apart from my brother so they’ll be able to come to more games and it’ll give the kids a chance to hang out with the nephews and nieces a lot more.”
He will play under Phoenix coach Mike Kelly for the first time, but the pair has a long history — Kelly was a mentor during his college years at Cochise (JUCO) and then Wyoming.
“I spoke to Mike a few times when he was coaching over there when I was making my decision after leaving JUCO,” he said.
“Being around him and the league over the last little journey, you run into each other a fair bit and have little chats here and there.
“He’s been around the league for a long time and I love what he’s about.
“We haven’t chatted full roles here as such yet but Mike knows what I’m good at, he’ll put me in the best spots to be able to succeed and put me in areas that are going to help the team win and that’s all I’m about.”
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