Bogut gives Penney thumbs up

Aug 18, 2005
By Oliver Christiansen

Twelve months ago the name Andrew Bogut would hardly have caused a ripple in basketball circles.

Today however, the 7 foot centre from Melbourne's suburbs is the sport's hottest property worldwide, fresh from a dominant college career in Utah, and having being named 1st pick overall in the NBA Draft on June 29, after only his sophomore year.

The Bogut show rolled into Melbourne on Thursday, with the game's new superstar, now dubbed "The Bogey Man", welcomed amid flashing lightshows and booming US-accented introductions. Refreshingly though, the man himself remains focused on the difficult challenges ahead.

"I'm the happiest when I'm on the court, with the doors locked, and just find myself, and find my mind, that's when I'm happiest. Just get to the basketball court and I'm fine."

The perils of the transition from college to pro ball were often highlighted, but Bogut maintains it was pretty seamless, and credits NZ's Kirk Penney, also in Milwaukee for Summer League as a decisive factor in finding his feet quickly.

"Oh definitely, we hung out every day, we went to lunch and dinner together, it was just good to hear someone talk normally for once. We gave each other a lot of crap about New Zealand and Australia for a bit of a laugh. He's a great kid too."

"It was good to have someone I could relate to in the Summer League team, a lot of the guys don't know what it's like in Australia, or how I grew up, but me and Kirk got along very well."

"The Bogey Man" will need to settle quickly, as he faces Miami's Shaquille O'Neal in the opening home game of the season, then Chinese giant Yao Ming next outing.

"It's definitely not going to be a coming out party against Shaq for me. He's going to give it to me, I already know that. I'm going to get a lot of help from my teammates, just play hard. He's probably going to get 30 (points) or something first game. He's the best centre in the world."

Despite an already impressive list of achievements, Bogut knows the hardest yards remain ahead.

"I think all aspects of my game need improvement, there's not one part of my game that's perfect, and I think that's the challenge of playing basketball or being a professional athlete. Michael Jordan was the closest to perfect and even he had bad games."

It's this improvement the Bucks will be relying on to lift them into the post-season for the first time since 2002.

Bogut is a great guy, I cant wait to see what he does for our team.

Kirk Penney was my boy in college, I really hope he can get into the NBA consistently one day.

I think Bogut will be a fine player. I wish we would have had the #1 pick. I'm happy we got Martell Webster though. That kid can shoot lights out!

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Bogut gives Penney thumbs up

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That title could be misunderstood...in so many ways. :lol

Penney has signed with Maccabi, hasn't he? I believe they want him to fill Sarunas role, which will be quite a task.

Bogut is cocky, clumsy & over hyped...The next Mark Madsen...

:flipoff Kirk Penney

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Originally Posted by timvp

:flipoff Kirk Penney

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:flipoff :stfu timvp!!!

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/co...side-penny.jpg

:makemyday

Dont deny that Penney has mad skills!!!

Straight outa Wiscompton! (Via NZ of course :))

we all know sheepfuckers cant play ball

^ :lmao

Its all in fun.

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"The Bogey Man" will need to settle quickly, as he faces Miami's Shaquille O'Neal in the opening home game of the season, then Chinese giant Yao Ming next outing.

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Holy Shit. I did not know that.

The leagues not doing him any favors.

shaq will shit all over bogut...and use redds new cheque to wipe his ass

Yeah. Uh.

Thanks Captain Obvious.

BTW, timvp, why do you hate Penney??

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Originally Posted by Dre_7

BTW, timvp, why do you hate Penney??

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I'm sure a search would answer your question. Let's just say he tried to get too friendly with the wife with the husband in plain view.

:flipoff

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Originally Posted by timvp

I'm sure a search would answer your question. Let's just say he tried to get too friendly with the wife with the husband in plain view.

:flipoff

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:rolleyes Don't exaggerate. He didn't know you were my husband -- I didn't introduce you.

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

:rolleyes Don't exaggerate. He didn't know you were my husband -- I didn't introduce you.

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Yeah timvp, stop trippin!

What would you do if he somehow ended up with the Spurs?

http://www.uc.wisc.edu/olympics/imag..._the_court.jpg

http://i.cnn.net/si/2004/sioncampus/...311/p1_mad.jpg

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas..._penny_all.jpg

http://www.jsonline.com/badger/image...enney10401.jpg

http://mirrorimageorigin.collegepubl...s/p8zdrxm2.jpg

http://www.nzedge.com/newzedge/newze...irk_penney.jpg

http://media.collegepublisher.com/me...s/p8zdrxm2.jpg

Don't worry, he's almost less of an NBA prospect than Devin Harris.

:lmao that was harsh.

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Originally Posted by timvp

Don't worry, he's almost less of an NBA prospect than Devin Harris.

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I am gonna make sure I remember that statment. That way, in a few years, when Devin is a quality starting PG in the NBA (he will end up being better than Beno IMO), I can remind everyone about how you thought he would be a bust.

Well when I said it was harsh. I didn't say it wasn't true. So you can put my name down for that as well.

Ok. We will see.

Indeed :)

Harris's Efficiency rating: + 6.41
Beno's Efficiency rating: + 5.49

Devin Harris was put on a team that:
1. Is absolutely STACKED at the guard position
2. Has a completely different system than what he played in college.

While I feel the whole "system" excuse is mostly what it is, an excuse. In a position such as point guard you absolutely HAVE to have the experience in that system to play succesful.

Valid points but they wanted to start him, they had big plans and he failed to meet them. In the end they needed to bring in a third point because Harris was too much of an unknown.

They had a lot of guards. He could have started. But its hard for a rookie to replace Nash. If they would have let him play more, it would have been better. And Dallas was loaded at the guard position. Harris can (and will) be a star.

Ok, Dallas had a lot of guards.... but no point guards of note. Terry still wasn't on board at that point he was meant to be the answer but he wasn't. Its not like he was replacing MVP Nash either he was replacing top 10 point Nash.

Like I said, they pulled him too quick.

When did they get Terry btw? I thought they had Terry from day 1 of the regular season?

Either way, you gotta give him time to develop. Most Rookies arent gonna be superstars right away. What did Nash do his rookie year?

I dont think you can call him a bust after one year. And he didnt have a horrible year. He has all the potential. Lets just see what happens.

penney is good