MELBOURNE, Australia, April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NBA Center
Andrew Bogut confirmed today that he would be available to play for the
Australian National Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Finishing his
third NBA season, the 23-year old Milwaukee Bucks and Australian Boomers
Center averaged a career high 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and
1.7 blocks over 78 regular season games, marking the third consecutive
season that he had increased his averages. The recently completed 2007-2008
Season was an overwhelming success for Bogut, in which Bogut ranked #11 in
the NBA in rebounds per game (9.8); #9 in the NBA in Blocks Per Game
(1.73); and #12 in double-doubles with 38.



    In 226 career NBA games, the Melbourne, Australia native has improved
in each season and demonstrated that he is one of the top young Centers in
the NBA. In fact, Bogut's improvement has made it a near certainty that the
Milwaukee Bucks will seek to sign the center to a long-term extension, on
July 1, in order to secure one of the key foundations of their team for the
next six years. Bogut, along with Chris Paul and Deron Williams, are the
star players from the 2005 NBA Draft class.



    Assuming the Bucks and Bogut reach an agreement on July 1, 2008, a
contract would be subject to Bogut passing a medical examination and
signing a contract no earlier than July 9, 2008 in Milwaukee, when the NBA
moratorium on contracts signings ends, according to NBA's Collective
Bargaining Agreement rules governing such negotiations. Bogut will then
depart Milwaukee to join his Australian teammates back in Australia.



    "With the recent hiring of new General Manager John Hammond and new
Head Coach Scott Skiles, and (team owner) Senator Kohl's statements that he
is committed to making the Bucks into a winning organization, it is my hope
and desire to remain in a Bucks' uniform for many years to come. The main
thing is I like what I heard from John Hammond about the direction the
Bucks are moving towards. We all want to win next year and I know the fans
want to win. I have come to love Milwaukee and its fans, I have adopted it
as my home, and I would like to be here long-term," said Andrew Bogut.



    "As for any negotiations, I leave all business matters to my agent
David Bauman. As David explained the rules to me, if we are successful in
agreeing to a long-term contract extension on July 1, which is my hope, I
would not be able to sign a contract until July 9, 2008, at the earliest.
Given my commitment to the Australian National Team, I told David if we are
going to agree to a new deal to get it done quickly with Mr. Hammond and
Senator Kohl, so that I can join my Australian teammates and put any
contract thoughts behind me," Bogut continued.



    "I do not anticipate any major issues with the Bucks this summer. I
have a great relationship with new-General Manager John Hammond, as well as
with team owner Senator Kohl. Andrew has improved each of his three years
in the NBA, and he has established himself as one of the top young centers
in the NBA and a key component of the Buck's future. Andrew's goal is to
remain with Milwaukee for the long-term, and to turn them into a winning
team, and we have heard nothing but positive things from the Bucks.
Yesterday's hiring of Scott Skiles is yet another positive step in the
right direction for the Bucks franchise," said David Bauman, Bogut's agent
and President of Hoops Management.



    "Andrew is very patriotic and passionate about playing for his country
and he will do everything in his power to ensure that he is ready and
available for the Olympics. Unfortunately the delay in joining the Boomers
for their training camp is out of his control. I am confident that this
will be resolved in time for Andrew to join the Boomers in camp back in
Australia by mid July," said, Bruce Kaider, Director of One Management
Group & Consulting.



    Basketball Australia Chief Executive Scott Derwin acknowledged Andrew's
commitment to the team, "Whilst we would have liked Andrew to be with us
for the entire duration of our Olympic preparation, we fully understand the
steps he must take to ensure the best outcome for his career in the NBA. It
will be great to have him back in the green and gold come July and in
Beijing for the Games."



    David Bauman is the President & Founder of Hoops Management, which is
Live Nation's Basketball Division. Hoops Management is a full-service
marketing and management company, specializing in the representation of
professional basketball players throughout the NBA and the world. Our
clients include Peja Stojakovic, Vladimir Radmanovic, Othella Harrington
and Andrew Bogut, among others. We are an independent subsidiary of Live
Nation, Inc., the worlds' largest producer and marketer of live
entertainment.



    One Management Group & Consulting is a marketing and consulting company
specializing in marketing top athletes to corporations world-wide. In
addition to representing Andrew Bogut in the Pacific Rim, One also
represents fellow Australian and WNBA player Lauren Jackson.

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