Awards stunt a blast for Bogut
Superstar’s prank cracks up NBL event
ANDREW Bogut yesterday doubled down on a bizarre Will Ferrell-inspired stunt that overshadowed the NBL’s most valuable player gala.
The Sydney Kings marquee, crowned league MVP from Casper Ware and Bryce Cotton on Sunday, confirmed the NBL’s reaction the lighthearted stunt was “divided”.
It is understood NBL owner Larry Kestelman confronted the NBA champion after Kings young gun Dane Pineau walked onto the Crown Paladium stage to accept Bogut’s defensive player of the year award.
Kestelman has since accepted Bogut’s explanation.
“We know Andrew was trying to have a bit of fun,” he said. “We’re not taking it to heart. He’s a great champion and a deserving winner of the MVP.”
Bogut insisted yesterday the stunt was not designed to be “disrespectful” and would even consider doing it again.
“Probably. Yeah,” Bogut said. “I don’t think anybody got hurt doing it.
“With respect to the other guys, who gave speeches, but the other speeches didn’t exactly set the world on fire.
“One guy gave one sentence, the referee didn’t give a speech, Bryce didn’t give a speech.
“It’s still Australia where we can have a laugh at each other I think. It lightened the mood a little bit, some people didn’t know what was going on.
“The PR people were very, very happy with it.”
Bogut revealed Pineau got the idea from actor Will Ferrell at the ESPYs.
Ferrell accepted the best male athlete award in 2008 for Tiger Woods and proceeded to give a speech as Woods.
MVP runner-up Ware was caught off guard by the stunt.
“I thought it was a joke at first,” the Melbourne United star said. “It was pretty funny but I wouldn’t do it.”
The pair will lock horns in the best-of-three NBL semi-finals series starting in Melbourne on February 28.
Bogut fired the first shot yesterday.
“We know Melbourne don’t appreciate us being touted as favourites,” Bogut said.
“They are the champions and we came into the season with a lot of notoriety.
“I always said it takes time. It is baby steps. We’ve accomplished our goal of making the finals but now we want to knock off the favourites.”