The Golden State Warriors have announced the addition of a familiar player today. Australian born Andrew Bogut has been reunited with the team he won a championship with, in 2015. The former number 1 overall pick, has been out of the league since the 2017-2018 season, where he saw limited time with the L.A. Lakers. Bogut spent 4 seasons with the Oakland based team from 2012-2016. Current All-Star Warrior Steph Curry was happy the addition of Bogut.
“He’s a guy that we have had a lot of experience with. He knows our system. He knows how we do things around here. “
Since Bogut departed from the Warriors in 2016, he didn’t have the greatest success in the NBA. In the 2016-2017, he played for The Dallas Mavericks. Bogut started 21 of 26 games but was plagued by injuries and eventually traded to The Philadelphia 76er, where he was later waived. The following year, he signed with Cleveland and he broke his leg in the very first minute of play for the Cavaliers, in the regular season opener. He was ruled out for the year and was waived by Cleveland. In 2017-2018 he signed with the Lakers but saw only 9 minutes of action per game over a 24 game span. He was later released.
Bogut has spent the entire 2018-2019 season playing back home in Australia. He was part of the National Basketball League (of Australia). In 30 total games, he averaged 11.4 points, a league-high 11.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.7 blocks in 29.7 minutes per game. Bogut was awarded MVP honors, the Best Defensive Player and earned All-NBL First Team.
This acquisition comes just one day after the injury to Centre, Damion Jones, was announced. The Warriors may have lost him for the rest of the season and if so, were to be left pretty thin as far as centres and height goes. With Jones out, Bogut’s 7’0 frame should add the much-needed depth. Aside from Centre depth, Bogut provides the defending champs with depth period.
If you think of Golden State as a stacked team then have another look at their depth chart. The starters are all stars but just look to their bench. The Warriors have not been themselves when they are missing a star or two. One of those bench players is former Toronto Raptor Alfonzo McKinnie, who has done a tremendous job since joining Golden State. However, The Warriors never expected this out of McKinnie, as he played a very insignificant role with Toronto.
Back in 2011, Bogut led the NBA in with 2.6 blocks per game.
In the 4seasonsn with The Warriors, Bogut shot an impressive, 58 per cent from the field, while logging 23.7 minutes, 6.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Bogut and Golden State agreed to a one-year deal but the amount has yet to be disclosed.
