OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — Australian veteran Andrew Bogut rejoined the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday as the NBA champions bolster their roster with the postseason looming, the team announced.
The 34-year-old center was given the green light to return to the NBA after completing the 2018-2019 season with the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League.
Bogut told a press conference in Sydney he had few illusions his NBA return would mean serious playing time, saying he’d be happy “if it’s waving the towel for 20-odd games and being a good teammate”.
“For me it’s an honor to play there and go and sign there and not play a minute. Anything more than that is a bonus,” he said.
Bogut returns to Oakland after four successful seasons with the team between 2012 and 2016. He was a key member of the team’s NBA championship-winning roster in 2015.
Terms of Bogut’s contract with the Warriors were not revealed.
As well as helping the Warriors to their 2015 title, Bogut was also part of the team which set a record 73 wins in 2015-2016.
Bogut averaged 6.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.71 blocks in 23.7 minutes over 236 games (230 starts) for the Warriors.
A lengthy NBA career also included stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Bogut, the first overall pick in the 2005 draft, last played in the NBA on January 1, 2018 while with the Lakers.
The San Jose Mercury News reported that the Warriors moved for Bogut after scouting his form in Australia with Sydney.
Bogut was the league’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 11.4 points, a league-high 11.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 blocks in 29.7 minutes over 30 games.
© Agence France-Presse
