Meet "The Mentor" Part 1 ( Sinisa Markovic )

[Matt Foley]

Meet "The Mentor" - Part I
Bucks' Bogut credits Markovic with career-launching assist
by Truman Reed / special to Bucks.com

January 17, 2008

MILWAUKEE -- Sinisa Markovic must be sleeping more peacefully these days.

He is still on call, 24-7-365, but there have not been many incoming or outgoing transcontinental distress calls lately.

That is because the Milwaukee Bucks are suddenly finding Markovic's 7-foot, 260-pound prized pupil, Andrew Bogut, with the basketball more often. And Bogut is rewarding them with the greatest production of his three-year National Basketball Association career.

Over his last six outings through Jan. 16, Bogut was averaging 19.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 blocks per game, while shooting .667 from the field.

The emergence featured a 29-point, 11-rebound outing against Amare Stoudemire in Phoenix on Jan. 12, a 23-point, 10-rebound effort at Utah on Jan. 14 and a 21-point, 10-rebound game last night against Atlanta. "The Boomer" celebrated his Utah homecoming on Monday with a high-flying, thunderous slam dunk that sent echoes through the nearby Wasatch Mountains.

For January, Bogut's averages are 18.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 blocks, with shooting percentages of .618 from the floor and .644 from the stripe.

So instead of fielding SOS calls, Markvovic can sleep easier. And when his phone does ring and the voice on the other end calling from the other side of the globe has encouraging words, they are music to his ears.

Such satisfaction must be extremely gratifying. It is the byproduct of an seven-year, student-teacher connection that has become an invaluable friendship.

When Andrew Bogut was 15 years old, he was told he would never fulfill his ambition of becoming a professional basketball player. Then Sinisa Markovic stepped into his life, and the world has since become their mutual proving ground.

"Andrew was 15, about to turn 16," Markovic recalled. "His parents sought me and I responded to them. I came one day to see him play. He was told that he was no good. He wanted to prove that he was.

"We have. But it's not me that has played the role; it's him who wants to make it."

Markovic became Bogut's personal trainer, working with him for $20 per session. And unlike many of those in his field, Markovic did not bring just strength, conditioning and agility expertise to the table.

Before he entered his profession, Markovic was an accomplished professional basketball player in his own right, so he knows the ins and outs of Bogut's specialty, too.

Bogut considers his family and Markovic as the individuals who have had the greatest influence on his life.

[blkout]

So that's where I went wrong. I was paying $10 a session for my coach.

[Matt Foley]

I think it is time for a new "The Bogut Whisperer"

[mpg]

Give Markovic $1,000,000 and make him coach here.

[jerrod]

Give Markovic $1,000,000 and make him coach here.

why? bogut's best best stretch of games ever came with him millions of miles away.



edit: just to make sure, yes i know it isn't actually millions of miles

[Matt Foley]

yah but Bogut was rockin a Bluetooth headset talking to him during the games..

[REDDzone]

Thank you god he isn't here.

If I found out he was here this time, I would go on a mission to bring him here permanently, if I failed, I would fall into despair.

[Chapter29]

Well someone on this site is planning on relocating Australia to Lake Michigan, so in due time Markovic will be closer.