Bogut won’t return to NBA

ANDREW Bogut’s illustrious NBA career is over, revealing he left the world’s best league to sign a historic two- year deal with the Sydney Kings to fulfil a commitment that fell over seven years ago.

Bogut was set to sign with the Kings during the NBA lockout in 2011- 2012, but the deal collapsed when the insurance company charged an exorbitant amount.

The veteran centre says this experience played a crucial role in his decision to choose Sydney over Melbourne United as his preferred NBL club.

Bogut concedes it was “close”, but the Kings’ vision on and off the court combined with the challenge of rebuilding the franchise sealed the deal.

After 13 seasons in the NBA, he also became sick of the travel and is determined to settle and spend more time with his young family.

It’s why his Sydney contract doesn’t have NBA or European out- clauses.

For the next two seasons, he is fully committed to delivering the Kings success.

“This is my official retirement from the NBA,” Bogut said at his lavish unveiling as a Sydney King yesterday.

“I have no want to go back there, regardless of offers that I get. In fact, I don’t have an NBA out in my contract. I purposely did that out of respect to Sydney in doing this deal.

“I have no goal to return to the NBA and return to the States.

“I’ve been thankful to be able to play there for 13 years, but this chapter of my life there is no going back.” In an ideal world Bogut says he would have signed with his hometown club, Melbourne United.

He seriously considered joining United, but in the end he was sold on Sydney’s vision for the future.

“I’d been speaking to the Kings for a few years, but it really heated up last Thursday night,” he said.

“But the way Sydney handled it and how quickly they acted, the deal was done on the Sunday.”

Bogut is also excited by the challenge of rebuilding the underperforming Kings, as opposed to joining the defending champions Melbourne.

He revealed he also didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of Golden State star Kevin Durant, who caused a stir when he left Oklahoma City for a star- studded Warriors side in 2016.

“When I was discussing with Melbourne that was always in the back of my mind,” he said.

“It kind of felt like the Durant thing all over again, in an Australian capacity.”