BOGUT’S BLITZ BID IN TATTERS

NEXT month’s NBL Blitz has already suffered its first star casualty with NBA championshipwinning centre Andrew Bogut confirming he will not participate.

Bogut, who was part of Golden State’s 2015 winning team, will suit up for a second season in the NBL with the Sydney Kings after being crowned league MVP last year. However speaking to the club’s website, the 34-year-old veteran said given his involvement with Australia’s upcoming World Cup campaign, he would sit out of the pre-season tournament in Tasmania to rest ahead of the season proper.

“Both Andrew and the Kings also understand that it’s vital he is given every opportunity to come into the NBL season as fresh as possible, considering his workload and his enormous importance to the team,” the article said.

“Accordingly, the club have confirmed he won’t be attending the NBL Blitz in Tasmania to ensure he gets some recovery time in before the 2019-2020 season tips off in October.”

His absence is a big blow to the Blitz, for which the Tasmanian Government paid $300,000 to host.

And with the World Cup in China running from August 31 to September 15 — ending just four days before the first day of the Blitz — Bogut may not be the only big name to withdraw, pending how deep Australia progresses in the tournament.

He was set to be the drawcard attraction on the North-West coast with Sydney playing the league’s newest side South East Melbourne in Devonport on Saturday September 20, with the Kings’ second match against Perth at the Derwent Entertainment Centre Sunday afternoon.