Andrew Bogut not yet committed to Australia in World Cup

Andrew Bogut suffered a fractured rib before the 2014 NBA playoffs and was unable to help his Golden State Warriors in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers. According to Sydney Morning Herald, Bogut said that he will soon have tests on his broken rib to see if it has healed. Due to his injury, he hasn’t committed to playing for Australia in the FIBA World Cup later this summer.

His rib injury caused him a lot of pain before the playoffs, and the rib was reportedly too close to his lung and he would risk puncturing it if he had played. Despite that, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called Bogut out for not having heart and not playing when his teammates needed him. To the cricitism, the Australian big man had a very straight forward response:

“He is just a wanker, pretty much,” Bogut said.

The Warriors certainly missed Bogut in the playoffs, as he has become one of the team’s most important players. He was not only a defensive anchor, but was also able to help the offense flow with his passing ability and solid screens.

His status in regards to the Australian national team is still up in the air, and he hasn’t officially pulled out of consideration. The competition tips off in August, so the 29-year-old still has plenty of time to get healthy.

The Warriors, on the other hand, would probably prefer if Bogut took the summer off, considering his long injury history and his importance to the team in the upcoming season.