Two key pieces from last year’s 72-win Warriors team make their return to Oracle Arena Wednesday night, when new Mavericks Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes take on their former squad for the first time this season.
Bogut’s departure has been a big topic of conversation early in the season, with Golden State’s defense taking an initial hit, no longer having the seven-foot rim protector in the middle of the key. Bogut, along with Barnes, were both casualties of the Warriors’ decision to add Kevin Durant this offseason, and the typically candid Aussie has been relatively tight-lipped when it came to discussing his departure up to this point.
But Bogut opened up to USA Today’s Sam Amick ahead of Wednesday’s clash with his former squad, saying he isn’t feeling much ahead of his return to the Bay Area, but will be thankful when it’s over.
“No emotions,” Bogut told the newspaper. “I’m good. Just go to work, try to get the win. Obviously it’s (one of) the toughest places to play in the league, and I’ll probably be more thankful when it’s all over. It’s going to be a circus … It’s going to be more draining than a regular game.”
Bogut also commented on the reports that came out of the organization following his departure, where his durability and desire were questioned, especially after a Game 5 knee injury ended his season early. Asked if he harbored any bitterness, Bogut said he simply doesn’t care.
“Oh, who cares? I don’t care,” Bogut said. “I don’t buy into the sources thing. I don’t buy into all that (expletive), because this league is so two-faced and everybody is so fake. The same people who made those comments will see me tomorrow and shake my hand and ask me how my family is. This league is full of people who are full of (expletive) and shallow, and that’s what you figure out in pro sports. It’s very hard to meet a genuine person who you can call your friend in this league. That’s just the reality, and I understand that.”
“People can take parting shots. I didn’t have a great Finals series obviously, with the injury, and finish off the way I wanted to, but that’s the way it goes. I’m not bitter about it. I could have played better definitely, especially on the offensive end. But I think defensively that I provided something for them that really helped that team win games.”
Bogut was obviously disappointed to leave the Warriors in the offseason, especially with the cohesiveness the group had developed over the last two season’s under Steve Kerr, but understood why Golden State elected to make a move.
“I mean there’s no doubt it’s disappointing to leave one of the best teams – record-wise, those last two years … you leave a team like that and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was bitter in a way. I wasn’t mad at anybody about it. I understood it completely. I’m not stupid.
“But yeah, you’re disappointed leaving guys who you battled for a championship with, and guys where everyone understood their role and it was just fun to play and be a part of that team, because every day you came in to work and everyone kind of knew their role and accepted it. It was just cool to be part of that every day. It was just automatic. You didn’t have to do any extra (expletive). That was probably the (most fun) part of it, was it was just so automatic for two years.”