Golden State Warriors: All-Decade Team for the 2010’s

Center: Andrew Bogut

It wouldn’t be right to put together an All-Decade Team for the Golden State Warriors and leave off the player that took the franchise into the next era.

That player is Andrew Bogut.

At the time the Warriors acquired him, fans were livid with dealing Monta Ellis for what was perceived as damaged goods — specifically a center who played just twelve games the previous season due to injury.

The Warriors remained patient with him, and when he finally was ready to play, he unlocked all kinds of potential for the team.

In just five seasons with the Warriors this past decade — some of those seasons only covering a handful of games — Bogut was able to bring excellent rim protection and serve as the ideal screening partner for Stephen Curry.

The big Aussie’s brutal screens became a staple of his game. And his ability to run to the rim and catch lobs from the likes of Curry and others was always fun to watch.

His numbers in any of those seasons may not jump off the page as being anything incredible. But his impact shouldn’t be doubted in the slightest.

He was a major gamble for a team on the precipice of something amazing. The gamble ultimately worked.

There is no telling how much harder the path to the 2015 NBA Championship would have been had it not been for the presence of Bogut on the team. His veteran leadership, defensive consistency, and complimentary game to Curry should be recognized.

He may be the lone member of this list that falls outside of the Hamptons Five. He may have been dealt to make room for Kevin Durant. And he may not have ever accumulated the kinds of stats that would make him seem like an impact player.

But he was a transformative player — the exact kind of center that the Golden State Warriors were looking for during the dark days of the previous decade.

For that, Andrew Bogut is an honorary legend of the 2010s.