Andrew Bogut
The Australian anchor who dominated the paint for Milwaukee and Golden State.
Andrew Bogut is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). He spent the majority of his career in the NBA, selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. Bogut earned All-NBA Third Team honors with the Bucks in 2010 and was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2012, where he won an NBA championship in 2015 and was named NBA All-Defensive Second Team that same year. He never played for the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Role
- Center
- Nationality
- Australian
- Draft Year
- 2005
- First Team
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Championships
- 1 (Golden State Warriors)
- Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Bogut's career arc represents a shift in the center position, emphasizing passing and mobility over pure size. After being drafted first overall by the Bucks in 2005, he earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2006. In 2010, he averaged a career-high 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, earning All-NBA Third Team honors. He led the league in blocks in 2010–11 with 2.6 per game. After a fractured ankle in January 2012, he was traded to the Warriors in March 2012. With Golden State, he won an NBA championship in 2015 and helped the Warriors win an NBA-record 73 games in 2015–16, making his second Finals. He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, then had short stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers. In 2018, he returned to Australia to play for the Sydney Kings and won the NBL Most Valuable Player Award. After the 2018–19 NBL season, he signed back with the Warriors and made his third Finals in 2019. He then returned to the Kings for a second season before retiring in 2020.
In Their Own Story
The arena hummed with tension as the Warriors faced off against a familiar Western Conference foe. Bogut stood at the baseline, chest out, directing traffic before the tip-off. He didn't play for LA, but his presence on that hardwood reminded everyone of the championship pedigree he brought to every contest. In Game 6 of the first round of the 2013 playoffs, Bogut recorded playoff career-highs of 14 points and 21 rebounds, becoming the first Warriors player with 20 playoff rebounds since Larry Smith in 1987. He helped the Warriors win the NBA Finals in 2015 and then an NBA-record 73 games in 2015–16, making his second Finals. After being traded to the Mavericks, he played briefly before short stints with the Cavaliers and Lakers. In 2018, he returned to Australia to play for the Sydney Kings and won the NBL Most Valuable Player Award. Following the 2018–19 NBL season, he signed back with the Warriors and made his third Finals in 2019. He then returned to the Kings for a second season before retiring in 2020.
Reader's Guide
Bogut retired in 2020 after stints with several teams including the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Sydney Kings. He never played for the Los Angeles Clippers during his professional career. His legacy remains one of defensive reliability and international representation as Australia's first number-one pick. He earned All-NBA Third Team honors in 2010, NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2015, and won an NBA championship with the Warriors in 2015. He also won the NBL Most Valuable Player Award in 2018–19 with the Sydney Kings.
Did You Know?
- Bogut was the first Australian player to be selected first overall in the NBA draft (2005).
- He led the NBA in blocks during the 2010–11 season, averaging 2.6 per game.
- In the 2013 playoffs, Bogut recorded 14 points and 21 rebounds in Game 6, becoming the first Warriors player with 20 playoff rebounds since Larry Smith in 1987.
- Bogut won the NBL Most Valuable Player Award in 2018–19 after returning to Australia to play for the Sydney Kings.
- He was named the most valuable player of the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Cup after averaging 26.3 points and 17 rebounds per game.