http://nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=3504
Bogut - Basketball will grow
Monday, June 26, 2006 - 03:11 PM
NBL, AAP
Australian NBA star Andrew Bogut has told media that a gold medal for the Boomers at the upcoming 2006 World Championships in Japan would be unlikely to provide the impetus for the long-term success of basketball but that the sport can continue to grow over the next decade.
"If Australia wins the gold medal this world championships it still won't do that much," Bogut told the Australian Associated Press from the Boomers training camp in Canberra.
"The change is not going to happen overnight, it has to be a five to 10 years process with the NBL.
"Hopefully the stocks will improve with some national team success, a couple more guys playing in the States and the NBL expansion into Singapore.
"Even if we have to pay for free to air television, that is a smart thing to do.
"If we do that successfully there is no reason why we cannot be a top sport in Australia in five or ten years."
Bogut once again raised the prospect of potentially owning an NBL team.
"I'm not sure (if I will ever play in NBL). I will see how my career goes in the NBA. I could end up in the NBA, Europe or coaching or owning a team," he said.
"I will think about it all when it (opportunity) happens."
The 213cm Milwaukee Bucks centre said hopes of the Boomers enjoying success along the same lines as the Socceroos may be ill-founded.
"It will be hard for us to replicate (the Socceroos)," said Bogut.
"We are definitely not the most talented team, we need to be the team coming in the best shape and most determined.
"People are writing us off before we have even played a game.
"Everybody is going to be hard for us, there is not one team we can take easy."
Bogut said it was important for the Boomers to put aside individual aspirations and play as a team.
"As a team we can't afford to have guys taking away from the team by coming in trying to improve their own stocks for the NBA or Europe," he said.
"That is a big mistake a lot of teams make at this level.
"If we finish in the top five or six we we will be in better shape to make people take notice."
Bogut - Basketball will grow
Monday, June 26, 2006 - 03:11 PM
NBL, AAP
"If Australia wins the gold medal this world championships it still won't do that much," Bogut told the Australian Associated Press from the Boomers training camp in Canberra.
"The change is not going to happen overnight, it has to be a five to 10 years process with the NBL.
"Hopefully the stocks will improve with some national team success, a couple more guys playing in the States and the NBL expansion into Singapore.
"Even if we have to pay for free to air television, that is a smart thing to do.
"If we do that successfully there is no reason why we cannot be a top sport in Australia in five or ten years."
Bogut once again raised the prospect of potentially owning an NBL team.
"I'm not sure (if I will ever play in NBL). I will see how my career goes in the NBA. I could end up in the NBA, Europe or coaching or owning a team," he said.
"I will think about it all when it (opportunity) happens."
The 213cm Milwaukee Bucks centre said hopes of the Boomers enjoying success along the same lines as the Socceroos may be ill-founded.
"It will be hard for us to replicate (the Socceroos)," said Bogut.
"We are definitely not the most talented team, we need to be the team coming in the best shape and most determined.
"People are writing us off before we have even played a game.
"Everybody is going to be hard for us, there is not one team we can take easy."
Bogut said it was important for the Boomers to put aside individual aspirations and play as a team.
"As a team we can't afford to have guys taking away from the team by coming in trying to improve their own stocks for the NBA or Europe," he said.
"That is a big mistake a lot of teams make at this level.
"If we finish in the top five or six we we will be in better shape to make people take notice."
