'He's back': Andrew Bogut's epic moment seconds into NBA return
It took Andrew Bogut all of 80 seconds to make his mark in his first game back in the NBA.
The Aussie star was rushed into the Golden State Warriors’ starting lineup for Monday’s game against San Antonio.
And his prescence was felt immediately.
Bogut hooked up with Warriors superstar Steph Curry for an epic alley-oop in the second minute of play, marking Bogut’s first points.
The NBA world absolutely loved it.
Bogut is BACK.
(via @warriors)pic.twitter.com/eyErkkKOIA
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) March 19, 2019
BOGUT!!!
— Jopet (@joe_7th) March 19, 2019
This has to be a surreal experience for Bogut. https://t.co/KcEo9inKD5
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) March 19, 2019
Andrew Bogut's been great in a start for the Warriors. Flies from Sydney, then flies from San Fran to San Antonio, gets into the defensive side. Works well on offense, sets a screen for KD open shot, that's the fundamentals that help big time. https://t.co/ncR4rKlqjd
— Jamie 🇦🇺 (@AussiePI) March 19, 2019
STEPH-TO-BOGUT AND-ONE TWO-HAND SMASH!!! Great bounce pass by Curry. #LetsGoWarriorsLive
— LetsGoWarriors👌💛💙 (@LetsGoWarriors) March 19, 2019
Curry —-> Bogut DUNK!!!!
— dubzinho (47-21) (@currydiculo) March 19, 2019
Welcome back Bogut 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pMBGECCGZ2
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) March 19, 2019
Curry to Bogut! 15'16 Warriors vibe 💪 https://t.co/RJwcZ3UJYk
— Karl Chan (@karlmatyu) March 19, 2019
And he wasn’t done there, throwing down a big dunk minutes later after another pass from Curry.
Big @AndrewBogut is BACK! (🎥: @ESPN)
LIVE: https://t.co/WUUzWCDRgC pic.twitter.com/NNEGUpITAR
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) March 19, 2019
Bogut impresses but Warriors fall
Bogut shook off jet-lag and turned back the clock to his NBA glory days, but it was fellow Australian Patty Mills and the Spurs who won their western conference showdown.
The Spurs defeated the Warriors 111-105 as 34-year-old Bogut finished with seven points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes.
Bogut only arrived in California from Australia on Friday after his NBL season with the Sydney Kings and was expected to rest until the Warriors’ home game on Thursday against the Indiana Pacers.
However, a foot injury to starting big man DeMarcus Cousins forced Bogut to fly to San Antonio and suit up.
Mills, with 10 points including two three-pointers, and DeMar DeRozan’s 26 points helped guide the Spurs to their ninth-straight victory as their late-season surge continued.
Ingles shines
Joe Ingles had 11 of his 16 points in the first half as the Utah Jazz opened up a double-digit lead on their way to a 116-95 NBA win over the Washington Wizards.
The Australian swingman hit four of eight three-pointers in less than 25 minutes on court.
Australian Thon Maker played a season-high 33 minutes for the Detroit Pistons, starting in place of rested All-Star forward Blake Griffin, and had seven points, nine rebounds, three assists and a block in a 126-119 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
with AAP