In a jaw-dropping revelation, former NBA player Andrew Bogut has shared details of a trade that could have drastically changed the trajectory of the Golden State Warriors’ franchise. Bogut claims the Warriors almost traded Stephen Curry for him during the 2012-2013 season, a move that would have reshaped the future of the franchise.
During an interview with Ethan Strauss on House of Strauss, Bogut opened up about the trade discussions that took place behind the scenes.
“It was either Monta [Ellis] or Steph [Curry], and the team decided to go with Monta based on health,” Bogut revealed, via HoopsHype. At the time, Curry was dealing with chronic ankle injuries, which raised concerns about his long-term future in the league. Despite the doubts, the Warriors eventually made a pivotal decision to keep Curry, a move that would later lead to their dynasty of championships.
Bogut, who was acquired by the Warriors in a trade that sent Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks, stated that he had a close relationship with the team’s medical staff, who disclosed the details of the trade talks. “They were open about it with me. They just blatantly told me: ‘The other option was Steph and his bad ankle. We decided to go with Monta,’” Bogut explained.
The Australian center reflected on the “sliding door” moment that almost saw Curry traded away. “It’s just funny when you hear the narrative six, seven years later about how this was all a genius move,” he added. “But that wasn’t your initial plan. Your initial plan happened because of a bad ankle on Steph Curry.”
Bogut’s comments come as part of a larger conversation about the Warriors’ early struggles and their eventual rise to prominence. Curry’s health issues in those early years made his future uncertain, and it wasn’t clear at the time if he would ever become the player he is today. Fortunately for the Warriors, they made the right decision to stick with Curry, who would go on to revolutionize the game and lead Golden State to multiple championships.
