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Insurance issues holding up Bogut from playing down under

Milwaukee Bucks v Chicago Bulls

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 28: Andrew Bogut #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks waits for a member of the Chicago Bulls to shoot a free-throw at the United Center on December 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Bucks 90-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Andrew Bogut is finally feeling like his badly injured arm is fully healed, he is ready to return to the court.

Except the NBA is not returning to the court. So instead Bogut wants to play in his native Australia for a little while or until the lockout ends. However, now its insurance on the remaining three-years, $39 million of his NBA contract that is keeping him sidelined.

Talks have stalled with several Australian teams and FIBA is looking into the issue, according to ninemsn.com.

Considered the favourite to snap up Bogut’s signature, (Gold Coast) Blaze boss Paul Pamenter said talks with the Boomers centre were in a “holding pattern”.

“It is bigger than just Andrew globally,” Pamenter told AAP. “There are 60 or 70 guys on contracts valued up to $100 million now who are trying to get themselves around the world while this lockout drags on. It is a bit of an unknown at the moment. (But) we are quietly confident.”


Some teams have had sponsors step up to cover the cost of insuring NBA players while overseas, but for many teams, the insurance issue is a real challenge.

Still, I’d expect to see Bogut playing down under soon. Because sadly it doesn’t look like he’ll be playing in the NBA soon.