Andrew Bogut Comments on Andre Iguodala's Injury Suffered vs. Blazers
Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut criticized what he perceives to be a double standard for certain players in the league Tuesday.
"It seems like certain guys—predominantly international—that are the dirty guys in the league," Bogut said, per Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group. "That would have been a national outrage if it was somebody else."
His comments came in regard to Andre Iguodala's injury in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 11. Blazers point guard Damian Lillard dove after a loose ball, and in the process, he cut Iguodala's legs out from under him:
Bogut was critical of the play after the game:
He went on to clarify his stance, per Leung:
"It goes back to I don't think Damian did it on purpose. I don't think he did it on purpose. I don't think he tried to hurt Andre. But the be-all end-all, it's a reckless play. No matter how you look at it. I don't think he tried to hurt him, but at the same time, you dove for a loose ball through someone's legs. That's what happens, and that's just unfortunate, but like I said, they'd be calling for his head (if it was somebody else).
"
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr offered a similar argument Monday, per Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears: "It's a dangerous play, but hard to fault a guy for going for a loose ball."
Lillard's dive bore a striking resemblance to the sequence that knocked Atlanta Hawks forward Kyle Korver out during last year's playoffs:
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Matthew Dellavedova received a fair amount of criticism for his involvement. In January, NBA players and coaches voted Dellavedova the dirtiest player in the league in a poll conducted by the Los Angeles Times.
Iguodala suffered a left ankle sprain and will be out at least two weeks. As the Warriors continue their pursuit of 73 wins, his injury certainly comes at a terrible time for Golden State. One can understand both Bogut's and Kerr's level of frustration with how the veteran swingman was hurt.
