Former NBA star Bogut leaves Sydney Kings during virus shutdown

NBA champion Andrew Bogut says he is taking time to consider his options given the uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic

SYDNEY, Australia – NBA championship-winning center Andrew Bogut announced Monday, May 25, that he would not be renewing his contract with the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League.

But the 35-year-old Australian insisted in a social media post that he was "by no means" retiring yet, just taking time to consider his options given the uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic.

"I have decided not to sign with the Sydney Kings, or any professional sporting team for that matter for the time being," Bogut wrote on Twitter.

"With everything going on in the world, the future does not look too clear, most notably in regards to sporting leagues worldwide," he said.

"This by no means is a retirement note, but simply saying any concrete decisions are too hard to be made at this point in time."

Bogut signed a two-year contract with the Kings in 2018 following a 13-year NBA career capped by a championship he with the Golden State Warriors in 2015.

He was the MVP for the 2018-19 season of the NBL and the Kings made it to the grand final this year before the season was ended prematurely by the coronavirus shutdown.

Bogut said Monday that he had enjoyed spending the lockdown with his wife and "learning more about my kids than I ever could have previously."

"The plan moving forward? Spending time with my wife and kids, slowly getting back into physical shape, and finally making the most of the time we don't traditionally get at home," he said.

The seven-foot Bogut was the 2015 No. 1 overall pick in the NBA and spent 7 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to the Warriors.

He also played with the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. – Rappler.com