Q&A: Andrew Bogut wants to stay with Warriors beyond 2017

Sam Amick | USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State Warriors have no shortage of personality on their sensational squad, but big man Andrew Bogut is as compelling as they come in that department.

After recovering from so many devastating injuries during his Milwaukee Bucks days to become a pivotal part of the Warriors’ championship run, the 31-year-old who is in his 11th season is more candid and colorful than ever. There’s an appreciation for the game born out of his struggles, and an authentic perspective that he has always been known to have. With the Warriors now 23-0 heading into Friday night’s game at the Boston Celtics, Bogut joined the “NBA A to Z” podcast on Day No. 12 of their 15-day road trip to discuss every angle of their amazing start and look forward to where this is all going.

He discusses the Warriors’ exploding popularity and how there is a downside to it, sharing a story about how fans in Memphis rented hotel rooms next to the Golden State players so as to stalk them every time they hit the hallway. He analyzes Stephen Curry’s ascent, admitting that all of his teammates routinely share motivational material from rivals as a way to add fuel to his fire. He discusses not only his own contract situation (one season remaining after this one, with the possibility of an extension this summer), but the uncertain situation with small forward Harrison Barnes and the question of whether or not adding the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant via free agency this summer would be a good move.

Some of the highlights of the 35-minute interview can be found below.

On the Warriors’ motivation early…

“We’re still in our little bubble, and we’re just rolling. It’s just kind of automatic right now, without being disrespectful to any other teams. We know we’re going to get their best shot wherever we go, especially being the champs, but at the same time our rhythm and our flow is just on automatic. It’s beautiful to be a part of.”

On the ongoing group text message between Warriors players in which they share media material as a way to stay motivated…

“We obviously see some headlines, whether it was how Indiana was going to beat us the last game (on Tuesday) or whatever it is. And we’ll put it in the group chat. We’re not running away from it, or trying to hide from it. We actually like that (stuff), and we’re looking for different things to motivate us and fuel us along the way, along the journey…We don’t hide from any of that stuff, and we’re happy to put it out there.

“Obviously (forward) Draymond (Green) is very outspoken, so he’s one of the guys who does it a fair bit. But most of the guys like that stuff, and we’re not afraid of that criticism or controversy or whatever it may be. We’ll use it as fuel for the fire.”

On what makes this team so special…

“We don’t have guys who are saying, ‘Hey, I’m getting screwed. I want my minutes,’ or, ‘Hey, I want my touches.’ We kind of understand that, ‘Hey, we’re undefeated for a reason.’ Let’s keep that rolling from a team aspect, and eventually we’re all going to get rewarded, when it’s free agency or contract time, so let’s keep winning.”

On Stephen Curry improving so significantly off of his MVP campaign…

“I’ve never seen a guy win an MVP and have a chance for Most Improved Player the following year. It’s a joke…He was sensational last year, but he’s even better this year. And what he’s doing for us, even defensively. I think he’s top five or 10 in steals (he’s fourth at 2.26 per game), he’s doing a lot for us out there. Knocking down some crazy shots. There’s a three or four minute stretch every night where you can just see the heart coming out of the other team’s chest. It’s sensational, and you couldn’t be happier for the guy…It couldn’t happen to a greater person.”

On the San Antonio Spurs (now 18-5) and how they were the Warriors’ blueprint...

“They’re obviously what we were building to before we won the championship. Their ball movement, they’ve got team-first guys, they’ve got no guys that are me-guys on that team, who are big into stats and all that kind of stuff. We were trying to emulate what they were doing. Obviously (Warriors head coach) Steve (Kerr) had played there, he’d worked with Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich) before, and that was what we were trying to emulate. So we didn’t expect it to happen as fast as it did for us, but it did, and we’ve got the utmost respect for Popovich and their whole franchise in general for the way they conduct themselves. They’re professional. They generally weed out guys who aren’t high character and guys who don’t want to buy into their system. That’s kind of what we’re about as well.”

On Barnes’ decision not to take the Warriors’ extension offer in October, the value of keeping this core together and the question of whether someone like Durant could fit in…

“Within our group, it hasn’t been a huge distraction. Obviously you want every player to get their max worth. A career is very short, and obviously you want to make it while you can. Harrison is going to be a very rich man regardless of what direction that all goes.

“These situations (with this kind of collective group) don’t come up very often, so when they’re available you want to milk them for as long as you can. I think our owners and our GM understand that, that if you can keep this team together for another four or five years you try everything in your power to do that, rather than trying to all of a sudden put on an ‘I’m smarter than everyone and we’re going to make this big move,’ when it’s really not needed…I don’t think Harrison is going to go anywhere. I think he’s just obviously going to lift his value a little bit more with the new (salary) cap and all that going in (the NBA’s salary cap is set to spike from $67 million to $89 million next season because the nine-year, $24 billion television deal with ESPN and Turner kicks in).”

On his future both contractually and in relation to emerging big man Festus Ezeli (who will be a restricted free agent this summer)…

“Look, you never know (what will happen). You never take any of these days or seasons for granted. Things can change in a heartbeat. But I’m enjoying this moment. I didn’t even know if I’d be playing at this point in my career, to be honest, with some of the issues I’ve had. The two falls that I’ve had, with the ankle and the elbow, I didn’t think I’d get to 11 years to be quite honest. And I feel very, very good…Everything else will take care of itself.

“Festus is eventually going to be a full-time starter in this league. It’s just a matter of time, whether it’s after I’m gone or whether he goes to another team. Who knows? But he has the opportunity to do that, and he has the talent and the work ethic to do it. So I think I have another couple of years here, and I’ll continue to be a professional whatever direction they go and see what happens. But right now, I’m enjoying obviously being a starter on this team and I’m hoping to milk that for as long as they pay me (laughs).

“Look, we’ll definitely have the discussion (with management this summer about a possible extension for Bogut). There’s no doubt about it. I’m not a greedy guy…I know at what point in my career I am, and I definitely want some stability and to remain in the same place if I can. Obviously this is a great team we have going, and I want to remain here. There’s no doubt about that. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I’d love to stay. I’d love to never be a free agent…I’m happy to stay here if it’s good for both parties, and we’ll see where we’re at.”

On whether the Warriors care about the possibility of topping the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls for best regular season record of all time (currently 72-10)…

“Look, if it’s attainable we’ll go for it at that point…But if you ask me, ‘Hey, do you want to go 72-10 or do you want a ring?’ I’ll take 50-32 and a ring. We’d love to create history and all that, but I think most guys would just like that second championship ring rather than something that’s just going to be in the history books.”