Bogut deserved All-Star spot: coach

The coach of the Eastern Conference team for the NBA All-Star game has given Andrew Bogut a huge compliment, saying the Australian fully deserves to be part of this year's showpiece event, writes James Dampney for AAP.

Bogut has had a stand-out season for Milwaukee, putting up the kind of numbers that placed him firmly in All-Star contention.

The seven-foot centre is averaging 15.9 points, 10.3 boards and 2.2 blocks per game, all career highs, and would have been a worthy selection as an All-Star reserve in Dallas later this month.

It would have been a hugely significant milestone for Bogut, as no Australian has ever attained All-Star status.

Former Chicago Bull Luc Longley often said during his career he felt he needed to become an All-Star to get full recognition back home, although three NBA titles alongside Michael Jordan didn't hurt his cause.

And Bogut came agonisingly close this season, with the reserves selected by the NBA's 30 head coaches.

"He's probably more of a true centre than a lot of the other guys that people have talked about at that position," Eastern Conference coach Stan Van Gundy told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

"Most of them are power forwards playing up a position, while he's more of a true centre.

"I don't think there's any question he's an All-Star calibre guy.

"But when you're picking 24 guys out of 400 in the league, it gets difficult."

Probably the biggest factor in Bogut's non-selection is the Bucks' record so far this season.

Milwaukee are ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 21-26 record, just behind Miami (24-25) and Chicago (23-24) for the final playoff position.

Atlanta big man Al Horford was named to the All-Star bench, even though his numbers pale compared to Bogut's.

Horford is averaging 13.3 points and 9.5 boards, but the Hawks are sitting fourth overall in the east with a 31-17 clip.

While he was disappointed for his starting centre, Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles understands the reasons Horford was chosen ahead of Bogut.

"When coaches vote, they take into account guys on winning teams more than guys on other teams," Skiles said.

"I don't have any problem with anybody doing that.

"Andrew's numbers are better, but when a guy is a starting centre on a (winning team), it's hard to argue against it.

"Obviously, I'm biased toward my guy and can't vote for my guy.

"I would have voted for my guy, for sure."

If Bogut can put up similar numbers or better next season, particularly if the young Bucks can get some more wins, his chances will improve.

"What happens is sometimes a guy will suffer a year on the 'snub list' and the next year he makes it," Skiles said.

"The reality of it is we've been a franchise that has been down for the better part of a decade.

"It's up to us, that's our responsibility to rectify that, and he's a big part of that."

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