Always a place for veteran big man
BOOMERS coach Brian Goorjian gave Andrew Bogut his first shot in an Australian singlet, so he would “love” for the veteran big man to help him secure the country’s first men’s medal at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
As Bogut weighs up his next career move, Goorjian made his intentions to include him in the Australian Olympic squad crystal clear.
He believes the 35- year- old is as vital to Australia’s medal chances as he was when he started out at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
“I know the importance of his leadership, and I fully understand what his commit to that would be,” Goorjian said. “I would love for him to be a part of it, just to have that guy by my side just knowing how much he wants it.
“Bogut was the guy, the very first one, that I started with in Athens when we had gone through the whole rebuild of the team not qualifying for the worlds.
“Having Andrew walk in at such a young age and play the role he did, it helped me develop a strong relationship with him.
“Bogut now has a different role on the team, but it is really an important one.
“Off the floor and around the team, he is just respected by everyone, and he has a thorough understanding of the culture of the green and gold.
“Then there is the playing side of it. If he is healthy, he provides something that no one else can do in that position.”
It comes as Bogut is edging closer to announcing his next career move, with the veteran centre expected to make a decision in the coming weeks.
The NBL MVP in the 2018- 19 season remains unsure about his future due to the uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic.
Since parting ways with the Kings in late May, he has been spending time with family as he weighs up returning to the NBL or NBA as a lead- up to next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Bogut hopes to make a formal announcement on his future soon, but there will be no pressure from Goorjian.
The master mentor knows only the player can decide if their body still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
“Andrew has tremendous pride, and he doesn’t want to play if he feels that physically he is under the bar,” he said.