Bogut Mulls Retirement, Tavares Eyes NBA Return

Former NBA center Andrew Bogut is weighing retirement following the postponement of the 2020 Olympics. The former No. 1 pick, who has played in Australia’s NBL since departing the NBA, was planning on retiring following Australia’s participation in Olympic competition.

In a report from the AP, featured by ESPN, Bogut explained that a decision on his future could come in May.

“I haven’t done any basketball since the season ended, and it feels good waking up, getting out of bed and not feeling like I’m walking on glass,’’ Bogut said. “It’s [my career] all been thrown into a washing machine, essentially ... but there’s a decision to be made probably by mid-May.’’

Prior to his most recent stint in the NBL, Bogut appeared in 11 games with the Warriors during the 2018-19 season.

Bogut was not the only former NBA center to comment on his playing future. Walter Tavares, a 7-foot-3 big man who was selected with the No. 43 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, admitted that he has his eyes on a return to the NBA.

Tavares explained in a recent interview that he is making the most of his time with Real Madrid in Spain’s Liga ACB, but he monitoring his NBA options.

“I’m always waiting for an opportunity to return to the NBA, despite my five-year contract with Real Madrid“, Tavares mentioned.

“Here (at Real) I’m trying to do my best because you have to be ambitious to make history and leave a mark wherever you go and not be a player who just passed. The player has to be at the highest level every year to achieve goals. The NBA (return) is always open, there are offers every year, but I’m focused here to help Real Madrid”.

During Liga ACB play in the 2019-20 season, Tavares averaged 7.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.