Lockout, insurance issues could keep Bogut from playing for Australia in Olympic qualifiers

Bucks center Andrew Bogut is a proud and active member of the Australian national team, and of course, wants to play for his country in the Olympic qualifiers this September. But he—and other NBA players hoping to join their national teams—could have a tricky path in doing so if there is an NBA lockout. That’s because, once a lockout is imposed, Bogut’s contract with Milwaukee will no longer be insured, and an injury could put his future at risk.

The Melbourne Age reports on its website that Bogut’s representatives are in talks with Basketball Australia about filling the insurance gap for Bogut, who played through a spate of injuries this year and suffered a dislocated elbow after a nasty fall in April 2010. The Australian team is slated to begin workouts and exhibition games later this month.

“I definitely want to play for my country,” Bogut told the website. “In the past, BA has just piggy-backed on the Bucks' insurance policy and paid a small portion of it while I'm playing for the Boomers. But with the lockout, I technically won't have a contract and the Bucks' insurance won't cover me.”

Bogut has three years and nearly $40 million remaining on his contract.