Andrew Bogut has taken to social media to give his side of an ugly neighbourhood dispute, after news broke of the Australian icon’s involvement in a Sydney suburban drama sparked by a game of backyard basketball.
Bogut, one of Australia’s greatest ever basketballers, won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors as part of a decorated 14-year career across five different franchises.
He took up an assistant coach position at NBL team Sydney Kings, who he also co-owns, last year.
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Now living in the Sydney suburb of Enmore in the city’s inner west, the 41-year old’s long-running feud with his neighbour is heading to court, after a game of backyard basketball with his neighbour ignited a long-running dispute.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Bogut’s $30 basketball was damaged after being accidentally sent over the fence of neighbour Michaela Newby during a game with sons Luka (born in 2016) and Nikola (2018).
The report claims Bogut was playing basketball with his family when the ball was allegedly returned punctured by Ms Newby.
Neighbours told the outlet that Ms Newby had complained for months about “the banging and thudding of basketballs” interrupting her afternoon relaxation following her work as a chef.
Bogut’s basketball hoop mounted on a common wall between his $3.8 million property and her one-bedroom apartment.
“It’s usually in the afternoons and goes on for an hour or two,” the neighbour told the outlet.
“That’s where the issues started.”
While no charges have been laid, police have launched a malicious damage probe, with an application made to the Newtown Local Court for an apprehended violence order.
In response, Bogut took to social media to criticise the Telegraph‘s story, claiming Australian media is “an absolute swamp of s***”.
He was particularly aggrieved by what he perceived to be the outlet’s implication that the AVO was requested for his protection.
“Linking me being 2m tall to going to the Police is meant to infer what? That I can’t handle myself?” he wrote.
Bogut claimed the police involvement was sparked by Ms Newby’s behaviour towards his eight-year old son Nikola.
He accused Ms Newby of stabbing the ball before throwing it back, hinting that he had captured the incident on CCTV.
“Maybe, just maybe a neighbour stabbed an 8 year olds Basketball with a knife, then throw it at their head whilst they were in their own backyard and then further threatened a 8 year old child. Amazing what cameras pickup right?” he wrote.
““Bouncing a ball for hours” is also horrifically incorrect – but I get it you must sell clicks and sensationalise things.
“Maybe next time before going for the “front page scoop”, attend the court hearing, which is only next week, and you will can see for yourself the details instead of running with absolute diarrhoea.”
The AVO case is set to be heard in court on October 21.
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