More on Andrew Bogut Retirement?
After 15 years in professional basketball, Andrew Bogut is close to making a decision on when to end his career. The coronavirus and subsequent postponement of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo isn't making it any easier. The 35-year-old Bogut, who was the 2005 No. 1 draft pick by the Milwaukee Bucks and later won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, was planning to retire after playing for Australia at the Tokyo Games in three months. Those games have been delayed until July 2021. But Bogut, who has played for Sydney in the National Basketball League the past two seasons, isn't sure he can take the training and discipline needed to go another year.
"I'm not doing much, I can tell you that,'' Bogut told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation "Offsiders" program, which aired on Sunday. "To be able to kiss your kids goodnight and put them down every night ... I've appreciated doing that.'' Bogut has two boys -- Luka, 3, and Nikola, 2 -- with his wife, Jessica. "I haven't done any basketball since the season ended, and it feels good waking up, getting out of bed and not feeling like I'm walking on glass,'' Bogut said. "It's [my career] all been thrown into a washing machine, essentially ... but there's a decision to be made probably by mid-May.''
Bogut expressed interest in coaching once his kids complete high school in over a decade from now. But Loeliger sounded open minded on whether Bogut would eventually become an executive or coach with the Kings. “More likely than not, he’s going to be involved in the front office with the Sydney Kings,” Loeliger said. “But I’d certainly be open to both possibilities. He’s definitely an asset.”
Olgun Uluc: Andrew Bogut says there are no NBA outs in his deal. No Euro outs, either. He’s committed to the Sydney Kings for two years, and says he’s retired from the NBA.
Andrew Bogut: I’ll definitely coach at some point, but I don’t think it will be in the NBA. I don’t think the NBA lifestyle is conducive to raise a family in. I think the environment is great as a player, you make the most of it but to continue and be involved in the NBA for 30-40 years, I don’t think I can do it.
Do you see yourself coaching back here in Australia at the club or National Team level? Andrew Bogut: Who knows, I couldn’t tell you right now honestly. The NBL could be a possibility, National Team – the local junior competition. I’ll be in a position where I don’t have to do anything for money, so I can kind of do what I enjoy doing most.
