Honest Bogut is just that

Andrew Bogut was picked first in Wednesday's NBA draft, but he has also copped harsh words for his own opinions on Australian basketballing greats. Nick Mockford explains why these words are unjustified.

So, while Andrew Bogut was the toast of the town in Wednesday morning’s NBA draft, he was Australia’s worst enemy for being disrespectful.

A few comments deemed critical of famous Australian names such as Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal, and suddenly he goes from the guy everyone down under is proud of to another cocky basketballer who is too big for his own boots.

For what it’s worth, I can’t understand the sudden change of opinions; Bogut was only telling the truth.

He has achieved something no other Australian has achieved. Sure, Gaze had a distinguished career at Seton Hall in America, and became the undisputed greatest player ever to set foot in the NBL. Longley, while slightly fortunate to be in the right place at the right time with Michael Jordan, was taken seventh overall in his draft class.

However, although having won a championship ring for sitting on San Antonio’s bench – I use ‘won’ in the loosest possible way - Gaze never achieved enough outside of Australia to go down as a worldwide great. Longley, despite having the luck to play with probably the greatest player of them all, has to be considered a waste of a top ten pick for the franchise that selected him, Minnesota.

It is probably the same people who criticised Longley for not doing enough at international level who have also blasted Bogut for his recent comments that he is better than the former Bull.

The truth is, however, Bogut has already performed more for his country than Longley. He has already stated that a Gold Medal in the Olympics is more important for him than winning a championship in the NBA.

He plays with heart, and he plays with determination. He is faster, more agile and a better passer than Longley. For all those who idolise Gaze – and rightly so – Bogut has already achieved a higher standing on the world stage.

So what if he has told us that himself. So what if he has criticised one of the game’s current greats, Kobe Bryant. The NBA is full of egos, and only the mentally strong survive. Bogut is naturally confident in his own abilities, and he’ll need to be at the level he will be earning a living on.

Australia can protect their basketball icons all they like; Gaze and Longley both have NBA championships, widely considered the pinnacle of basketball. Longley has reached that peak three times, while the recently retired Gaze has dominated the domestic competition for two decades.

Respect them, fine, but don’t chastise Bogut for telling the truth. It’s a breath of fresh air in a sport that boasts so much of the opposite.

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