Draymond Green just dropped a truth bomb: Andrew Bogut was essential to the Golden State Warriors' dynasty. But here's the thing: most people don't realize just how devastating Bogut's injury was in the 2016 Finals. Let's dive in.
In a heartfelt tribute to the retired Australian basketball legend, Draymond Green didn't hold back. He declared that Bogut was absolutely "vital" to the Warriors' rise to dominance. Even more strikingly, Green credited Bogut as being as important as anyone to his own potential Hall of Fame career. That's high praise coming from a defensive powerhouse like Green!
Bogut, a former No. 1 overall pick, spent four seasons (2012-2016) with the Warriors, becoming the defensive anchor of Steve Kerr's squad. He was absolutely crucial to their 2015 championship run, providing the interior toughness and defensive presence that allowed Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Green to thrive. That 2015 title ignited a golden era, with the Warriors adding three more championships in 2017, 2018, and 2022. Think of him as the silent force, the unheralded general in the trenches, allowing the flashy offensive stars to shine even brighter.
But here's where it gets controversial... Bogut also played in the 2016 NBA Finals. However, disaster struck in Game 5 when he suffered a knee injury. This injury is, according to Green, a pivotal turning point that's often overlooked. The Warriors, of course, went on to lose the series in seven games to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in a historic comeback.
That injury wasn't just the end of the series for the Warriors; it also marked Bogut's final appearance in a Golden State uniform. The following offseason, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks to create salary cap space, paving the way for the blockbuster signing of Kevin Durant. Was trading Bogut worth it in the long run? Some might argue the two subsequent championships answer that question. Others might say the Warriors could have won even more with a healthy Bogut.
Speaking on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, the four-time NBA champion emphasized just how much Bogut's influence shaped his career. "Andrew Bogut taught me how to play defense the first day I got to Golden State," Green stated emphatically. "Andrew Bogut helped me understand different reads on the defensive end as good as anyone has taught me."
Green, who was drafted by the Warriors with the 35th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, continued, "I can never overstate enough how much he meant to me and my career and the player I have been able to become."
He further explained Bogut's value to the team's overall success: "When you talk about the beginning of the Dubs dynasty and how important Bogut was, he was that force in the middle for us. We knew going up against Dwight Howard and the great bigs in the league at the time, we knew we had a guy who could guard and stop all of them."
Green added, "During that time, bigs were very valuable. Going into these series, we knew, no matter what at the five position, we’re going to be solid, because 'Boges' got em'. He was very valuable in his leadership and he was very vital to the beginning of the dynasty and what became a dynasty. Huge. Everything he taught myself, I can never thank 'Boges' enough. Incredible. Like I was so lucky to come into an organization that had Andrew Bogut to teach me the things he taught me. Because it’s paid dividends on my career and allowed me to become the defender I’ve become."
And this is the part most people miss... Green argued that Bogut's injury in the 2016 NBA Finals is a vastly underrated factor in the Warriors' loss. "No one ever talks about" it, he lamented, emphasizing the blow it dealt to their chances of securing back-to-back championships.
"We need 'Boges' in that series... that was huge for us," the veteran forward said. "Because when you lose a player in a series, trying to find that fifth guy can always be tough. Now you've got to try and find a fifth guy to plug in, we just didn't really have enough time for the adjustment."
He continued, "That was huge, no one ever really talks about 'Boges' being hurt and missing that Game 7. But that was everything, we needed 'Boges' in that Game 7. I think if we had 'Boges', completely different story. Nonetheless, it is what it is and we weren't able to make up what we lost in his absence."
Currently, Green and Curry are the only remaining players from those legendary Warriors teams. Even head coach Steve Kerr recently admitted, "We are a fading dynasty," as the team has struggled to maintain its dominance this season.
Kirk Goldsberry of The Ringer recently echoed Green's sentiments, highlighting the Warriors' lack of a dominant big man presence. "The frontcourt has been bad... they used to have Keon Looney. They used to have, going way back, Bogut, next to them," Goldsberry observed on The Bill Simmons Podcast. "Now that character's not there. And, of course, the Klay Thompson character's not there."
So, was Bogut truly the unsung hero of the Warriors dynasty? Was his impact on Draymond Green's career as significant as Green claims? And, most importantly, would the Warriors have won the 2016 Finals if Bogut hadn't been injured? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
