SYDNEY (Australia) - Australia center Andrew Bogut has announced his retirement from professional basketball.

The 36-year-old, who led his country to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup title in 2003 but came up just short of the podium with the Boomers at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China, had initially planned to stop playing after the Tokyo Olympics.

That became less likely, however, because of the coronavirus pandemic, which led to the Summer Games being postponed until next year.

"I just can't physically and mentally get to 2021 with the way the body has been," Bogut revealed on his "Rogue Bogues" podcast. "I mean, I could, on a lot of painkillers and with a lot of physical and mental anguish, but it's just not worth it at this point in my career."

Recently appointed Australia coach Brian Goorjian, who brought Bogut into the national team in 2004 during his first spell at the helm of the Boomers, said: "He is a revered and iconic Boomer and while he would have loved to have joined the team in Tokyo, his decision to step away is selfless in many ways ... his body has taken a toll, he knows it."

Bogut will always be remembered as the first player from Australia to be selected as the top overall pick in the NBA Draft when the Milwaukee Bucks selected him in 2005.

He had to overcome numerous injuries in the NBA and it looked like the championship trophy would elude him but late in his career, he joined the Golden State Warriors and captured the title in 2015.

"I THINK THE THING ANDREW DOESN'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT FOR IS HIS WILLINGNESS TO PLAY THROUGH PAIN."- Former Australia coach Andrej Lemanis

"I loved coaching him with the Warriors," Golden State coach Steve Kerr. "He was one of the best defensive centers in the league, a brilliant passer, a great teammate and a champion."

For the past two seasons, Bogut played back home in Australia.  He suited up for Sydney and was the National Basketball League's MVP in 2019.

With Australia, Bogut played 80 times and competed at three Olympics and two FIBA Basketball World Cups. Under coach Andrej Lemanis at the Rio Games and the World Cup in China, Bogut was just seconds away from a top three finish.

Spain edged the Boomers, 89-88, in the Bronze Medal Game in Brazil, and last year came from behind to defeat Australia, 95-88,  in the Semi-Finals after two overtimes. Bogut and Co then fell to France in the battle for third place.

Lemanis hailed Bogut's toughness and commitment.

"I think the thing Andrew doesn't get enough credit for is his willingness to play through pain," he said. "I experienced firsthand countless times when it would have been easy for Andrew to miss a game or practice, but he gets it, he understands that for teams to succeed you have to be prepared to sacrifice, and so he found a way to get on court and help his team be better. The positive difference he made to the group was obvious. He is a true champion and legend of Australian basketball."

FIBA