The Golden State Warriors have signed center Andrew Bogut to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced today. According to the Associated Press, the deal is for three years and $36 million, but worth up to $42 million with incentives.
“This is a great day for the Warriors and we’re very happy to know that Andrew will be our center beyond this season as we continue to progress as a team,” said General Manager Bob Myers. “Andrew possesses a wide-ranging skillset that makes him a great fit alongside the other core pieces that we have assembled on our roster. He is still just 28 years old and has established himself as one of the premier centers in the NBA. He is a leader on our team and was a key part of our success during last season’s playoff run.”
Bogut enters the 2013-14 season owning career averages of 12.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.58 blocks and 32.1 minutes in 440 career regular-season games over eight seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors. In 32 regular-season games for the Warriors last season, he averaged 5.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.72 blocks in 24.6 minutes per contest before helping Golden State advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
In 12 postseason games last season, the 7’0” center averaged 7.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.50 blocks, while shooting 58.2% from the field. Bogut became the first Warriors player to average double-digit rebounds in the postseason (minimum five games) since Larry Smith in 1987. He tallied career playoff-highs of 14 points and 21 rebounds in Game 6 of the First Round against the Denver Nuggets, one of his three postseason double-doubles and one of five games with 10-or-more rebounds.
“I am so happy to get this deal done and want to personally thank Bob Myers and the Warriors owners, Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, for believing in me as a person and my skills on the court,” said Bogut. “I absolutely love living in the Bay Area and playing in front of our incredible fans. I’ve said all along that this is where I want to be long term and now I look forward to starting the season and working with my teammates and coaches to continue building on the foundation that we laid last year.”
Originally drafted by Milwaukee with the first overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft, Bogut had his finest NBA season in 2009-10, earning All-NBA Third Team honors after averaging a career-high 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.54 blocks per contest. After seven-plus seasons with the Bucks, the Melbourne, Australia, native was acquired by Golden State, along with Stephen Jackson, on March 13, 2012, in exchange for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown.