NBA center Andrew Bogut has joined the often out of work Harry Kewell as Australia’s equal-richest athlete under 40 on this year’s BRW Young Rich list.
Bogut has an estimated $50 million of wealth despite just playing in 50 games during the 2012-13 NBA season and is in the final year of a five-year, $US 60 million contract.
“He’s still young so there’s no reason why his wealth couldn’t continue to grow very strongly,” analysed BRW Young Rich editor Andrew Heathcote.
“We’ve actually said he’s probably best-placed to become our first $100 million sportsman (40 years or under), assuming he maintains his form and fitness.”
The 28-year-old Bogut shrugged off another injury plagued season to string together a great playoff run and help the Warriors to the second round, where they fell to the San Antonio Spurs.
Bogut says he’s feeling great heading into training camp, beginning October, after fracturing is left ankle in January last year.
“The most important thing is not having a trainer or coach tell you that there are restrictions on what you’re doing,” Bogut said late last week.
“I can come in here and do what I want. I can come in here and run. I can condition. I can lift. I can shoot. I can play five-on-five and nobody can tell me I can only do one set or play 20 minutes. I have none of that right now and I’m not going to have any of that during the season.”
Just below Bogut on the BRW list is departing Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber ($48 million), golfer Adam Scott ($45 million) and veteran tennis player Lleyton Hewitt ($35 million).
Get amongst CraveOnlineAU on Twitter and Facebook for daily sport, music, entertainment and gaming news.
Follow Robert White on Twitter @RobertWhitebrrr.
Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images.
