Portland Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge, left, blocks a shot attempt from Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Bogut (12) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. AP
OAKLAND, California — The Golden State Warriors are banking on Andrew Bogut’s future in the Bay Area.
The Warriors and the Australian center agreed to a contract extension Friday, a day after the preseason ended. A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press it was for three years and $36 million and could be worth up to $42 million with incentives.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms had not been publicly disclosed. Bogut’s contract was set to expire after this season.
The Warriors acquired Bogut in a trade-deadline deal in March 2012 that sent guard Monta Ellis to Milwaukee. He did not play for Golden State that season while recovering from a fractured left ankle.
Bogut missed 50 of 82 games last season, mostly because of soreness in his surgically repaired ankle. He also battled back and knee injuries while averaging a career-low 5.8 points to go with 7.7 rebounds, but he was at his best in the playoffs, making a difference on defense to help the Warriors get to the second round.
Bogut took anti-inflammatory injections just to stay on the court, and he produced his best in the biggest moments despite his limitations. He had 21 rebounds, 14 points, four blocks and three assists in the Game 6 clincher against Denver in the first round, fighting through pain until the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs sent the Warriors home in six games in the second round.
Bogut also missed the end of the 2009-10 season with Milwaukee when he dislocated his right elbow, sprained his right wrist and broke his right hand in a hard fall to the floor. He also missed significant time with an injured lower back in the 2008-09 season.