Australian NBA star Andrew Bogut has criticised the NBA as "two-faced" and its members as "fake" ahead of what would have been his first meeting with his former team, the Golden State Warriors, since departing the club.
But Bogut will have to wait to face his former side, after he was rested by coach Rick Carlisle for the match.
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Bogut moved to the Dallas Mavericks after a disappointing end to last season, when the Warriors gave up a 3-1 finals series lead to eventual champions Cleveland. He was injured in game five of that series and didn't play in the final two games.
In an interview with USA Today, Bogut was asked how he felt about the Warriors' decision to let him go.
"I mean there's no doubt it's disappointing to leave one of the best teams â record-wise, those last two years âĤ you leave a team like that and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity," Bogut said.
"It was bitter in a way. I wasn't mad at anybody about it. I understood it completely. I'm not stupid."
When asked how he felt about taking "some hits on the way out of town" about his "durability", Bogut said he "didn't care".
But when the follow-up question came, that the "hits" came from inside the Golden State camp, he made his opinion of the league clear.
"That's how it is," Bogut said. "I don't buy into the sources thing. I don't buy into all that (expletive), because this league is so two-faced and everybody is so fake.
"The same people who made those comments will see me tomorrow and shake my hand and ask me how my family is. This league is full of people who are full of (expletive) and shallow, and that's what you figure out in pro sports. It's very hard to meet a genuine person who you can call your friend in this league. That's just the reality, and I understand that.
"People can take parting shots. I didn't have a great finals series obviously, with the injury, and finish off the way I wanted to, but that's the way it goes. I'm not bitter about it. I could have played better definitely, especially on the offensive end. But I think defensively that I provided something for them that really helped that team win games."
Before he was ruled out, Bogut said there were no emotions about going back to Golden State but that it would be "more draining than a regular game".
"I'm good. Just go to work, try to get the win. Obviously it's [one of]Â the toughest places to play in the league, and I'll probably be more thankful when it's all over. It's going to be a circus."
Bogut said the Warriors, who have dropped off defensively since his departure, are still adjusting to personnel changes.
"I think it's a long season. The season is too long. They'll get in a groove here pretty soon, I'm pretty sure. Hopefully it's not [Thursday afternoon AEDT]."