STAR Australian basketballer Andrew Bogut says it is crucial for concussions to be treated with the ‘utmost severity.’

Concussions have once again come under the spotlight with St Kilda’s Koby Stevens ruled out of playing indefinitely, just weeks after Bulldog Liam Picken’s playing future became clouded.

“It should be treated with the utmost severity,” Bogut said on Fox Footy’s On the Mark.

“Back in the day, I don’t know if it’s like that anymore, with AFL and rugby, a concussion — to come back from a concussion in the same game was treated as a badge of honour, like ‘yeah, you’re tough.’

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“But studies are showing that’s probably the silliest thing you can do.”

Bogut opened up on his own experience with concussion, saying it was the “worst two weeks of my life,” and that it had affected his moods.

Andrew Bogut. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“You know, broken legs, I’ve had those, ankles, cool, I can rehab that and get back on the court straight away,” he said.

“When it’s your brain — I had a slight concussion where I was out about two weeks and it was the worst two weeks of my life because I was snapping at my wife washing the dishes too loud or something, stuff that wasn’t normal for me.

“And my wife thankfully studied psychology so she could see it going on and she’s like ‘are you okay? What’s going on?’ And I’m like ‘nah I’m not, I don’t know what the hell’s going on, why I’m so different.’”

Bogut said it took him a significant amount of time to be ready to return to playing.

“You don’t know when it’s gonna end. I was good with everything until I went to go to workout,” he said.

“So as soon as I started running and moving around, I would get dizzy, get a headache and then I’d have to stop.

“So I couldn’t pass that third phase of protocol and then I’d just be at home just like out of it — just dazed and not remembering half the things I did. It took me about two, two-and-a-half weeks to get over it and get back on the court. It’s not a fun spot to be in.

“And the more you play through that stuff, it’s going to have an impact on you when you’re 40 and 50 and you see it in the NFL with guys unfortunately taking their own lives and suffering from anxiety and depression.”

Liam Picken lies on the field. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Bogut said it was a tough decision for athletes who decided to quit their respective sports because of the risks of repeated concussions.

“It would, it would a little bit and that’s when there’s been a lot of athletes that have made that decision,” he said.

“I know (Liam) Picken’s got a tough one to make and from what we hear he might not play again which is unfortunate. But he’s got a wife and children.

“So that’s kind of what you’ve got to look at, can you be capable of playing with your kids at 40 and 50?

“You don’t want to be a detriment to your family for a sport but at the same time, they’re the risks that we as athletes take, they’re the risks that people who work in warehouses take, they can get hurt, their backs go, all that.

“There’s risks with every job that we put ourselves in and you’ve just got to kinda outweigh that with family and that and make that decision when the time is right.”



If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.

For further information about depression, contact beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.