At 38, Andrew Bogut no longer drags his beautiful carcass on the ground, and it is from afar that he follows the exploits of his successors. The Australian contingent became one of the strongest in the NBA, and the former Warriors center was a trailblazer for an entire generation. Former number 1 in the Draft, he is a model for many, and for Sportal, he gives his opinion on two players in particular: Josh Giddey and Ben Simmons.
The first is one of the best picks of recent years, and his tandem with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most spectacular and promising in the NBA. Conversely, the second is experiencing a real crisis of confidence, but also physical, and he did not meet expectations.
In a team to shine
“He’s a great player! Josh gives the impression that he is not athletic enough and not fast enough, but he knows how to play. His progress is amazing.” considers Bogut. “From the beginning, he had qualities of passer and rebounder. Marking was his big question mark and I think he provided answers during these first two seasons.
For Bogut, his young compatriot has the potential to become the best Australian player in NBA history. “He just keeps getting better and I’m excited for what’s to come. He can become the best Australian in NBA history. He has set many records and I am delighted with the team he plays for. The Thunder are a young team, but by their second season they have become one of the hardest teams to beat in the West. If they add another veteran they will be even better. »
“The question of his confidence is the most important and I think the shots will unlock next”
For Ben Simmons, the picture is less rosy but Bogut thinks the problem is mostly mental. It is necessary that the leader of the Nets is released in terms of shooting and aggressiveness in attack.
“I spoke to him about it. The problem is his confidence in the shot” observes Bogut. “The real problem is the shots. In my career, I’ve had a lot of problems with shots and that often creates a problem for you to deal with. That’s the problem for him right now. He needs to be more comfortable going on free throws. By his way of playing and his athletic qualities, he has the ability to pick up fouls. If you shoot often, you become a difficult player to stop when you get free throws. »
The former Bucks pivot really advises him to do mental work during the summer. “During this off-season, the problem he has to solve is more mental than physical. His shooting needs improvement, but he will also need to clear his mind. If he misses two shots, he mustn’t feel like the world is falling apart. He must continue to attack. Last year, we saw him miss a few shots, but he remained aggressive and continued to attack. The question of his confidence is the most important and I think the shots will unlock next. »
