The Wonder of Down Under
by Andrew Pearson
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“With the first pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select Andrew Bogut from Australia and the University of Utah.”


Bogut, the top overall pick in the draft, went for the ball at the recent matchup with the Pacers. (Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty)

On that June summer night in the theater at Madison Square Garden, those words from NBA Commissioner David Stern not only signaled the official start to Andrew Bogut’s journey in the NBA, but they represented the hopes and expectations of a whole country.

“They dropped every television program and put on a news break about the draft,” Bogut said in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “You know, basketball is not the biggest sport in Australia. The country actually stopped for five minutes, and people are very proud of me."

Prior to Bogut, there have been few Aussie ballers – Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Lauren Jackson and Michelle Tims come to mind most frequently - that have made a name for themselves in the United States or even around the world.

Thus far, the results have been positive for Bogut as he has set out to change that perception, averaging 8.5 pgg and 7.7 rpg, that included a double-double in only his second pro game.

Despite having impressed those around the league early on, Australian Olympic basketball coach Brian Goorjian told 7News in Australia that his countrymen are aiming a little higher.

“The only name on the street people know in terms of an Australian name in basketball at the moment is Bogut, NBA number one pick, and they expect domination.”

Rest assured, Bogut doesn't plan on disappointing.