Bogut makes debut for Australian team

SYDNEY — Former Warriors center Andrew Bogut made a short but strong debut Friday for the Sydney Kings of Australia’s National Basketball League.

Bogut, who went to two straight NBA Finals with Golden State, winning one title, played 15 minutes in a 77-57 win over Japan’s national team in an exhibition game. He scored four points, grabbed six rebounds and had a game-high six assists.

Former St. Mary’s forward Daniel Kickert led Sydney with 24 points.

The Kings limited Japan to 19 points in the first half, then allowed 38 in the second when Bogut was on the bench.

“I was always just trying to ease into it,” Bogut, 33, said. “I haven’t played a game since January. When I played with the Lakers, I wasn’t getting a lot of minutes. It was my first organized hit-out in seven months so I just wanted to go as hard as I could in the first half.

“There’s going to be games in the NBL season when I’m not going to be the leading scorer, I’m not going to be the leading rebound getter. But I know I’m going to still have an impact on the game just because I’m out there.”

Bogut started his NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2005. In March 2012, he was traded to the Warriors with Stephen Jackson for Kwame Brown, Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh. Bogut played four seasons for the Warriors.

Sydney, whose roster also includes former St. Mary’s forward Dane Pineau as well as former Cal guard Jerome Randle, will host St. Mary’s in an exhibition game on Wednesday.

The Kings will open their NBL regularseason schedule on Oct. 13.