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Bogut ready to recapture All-Star form

 

Bogut ready to recapture All-Star form

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AOC
Bogut ready to recapture All-Star form

Andrew Bogut is confident he has recovered sufficiently from his horrific arm injury to re-start his push to become Australia's first NBA All-Star.

Bogut's Milwaukee Bucks open their new NBA season on the road against New Orleans on Thursday,

Andrew Bogut is confident he has recovered sufficiently from his horrific arm injury to re-start his push to become Australia's first NBA All-Star.

Bogut's Milwaukee Bucks open their new NBA season on the road against New Orleans on Thursday, with great interest surrounding the Australian centre's recovery from one of the worst injuries ever seen in the league.

Gruesome footage of the 25-year-old landing with the full weight of his 118kg frame on top of his right arm has been viewed more than half a million times on YouTube and been a major topic of conversation during the off-season.

Left with a broken hand, dislocated elbow and sprained wrist, Bogut was forced to miss the playoffs and Australia's world championship campaign and is still experiencing some pain and discomfort.

But he returned to the court late in the pre-season and insists he is ready to pick up where he left off last season, when he was named to the All-NBA Third Team in a break out year.

"I want to be an All-Star every year, but I put the team first," Bogut told AAP from Milwaukee.

"Of course getting my arm right was my main focus all off-season.

"But now that the light is at the end of tunnel, I feel like I can move on toward focusing on getting the Bucks to the playoffs and being an All-Star."

Milwaukee were universally tipped to prop up the Eastern Conference last season, but behind Bogut and electrifying rookie Brandon Jennings, they responded with a 46-36 record that left them second in the Central Division.

With the addition of proven veterans Corey Maggette and Drew Gooden, the Bucks are now being discussed as a team that could make some serious noise in the playoffs.

The Central Division is without LeBron James following his controversial move from Cleveland to Miami and Chicago and Milwaukee are expected to battle for the division title.

Bogut's fitness has even been mentioned as the key to the Eastern Conference, but the seven-footer isn't concerned by that sort of pressure.

"Not really, we have so many weapons that there is actually less pressure," he said. "Scoring will be up and down for me this year, but rebounding and defensive intensity are ways I have to be dominant and consistent."

Bogut's absence also left a big hole in the Boomers at the world championships and he struggled not being a part of it in Turkey, where Australia were knocked out in the second round.

"It was very tough to sit out, but that's sports," he said. "I watched a little when games were on TV in Australia.

"We have a good group going into the London Olympics, but more importantly London won't be there if we don't beat New Zealand in 2011 to qualify, so that's our main focus."

James Dampney
AAP