“Id love to stay with the Kings for as long as I play basketball,” Bogut said.
“But there has been somewhat of a negotiation in the middle where, lets say at the end of two years I want to play one or two more years and the Kings say Im past it or they want someone else, then I can play elsewhere but those shares return to the club.
“If I go off and sign with Essendon and get involved with them then I lose those shares, which is fair enough, but I do have that protection that I can still go and play but the Kings have first right of refusal for any playing contract I have in the NBL.
“If Essendon offer me a deal, they can offer to match it and I will be happy to stay but if I walk away and go to a different club and they dont match it, then I still have access to those shares but I need to return to the club [once retired] whether its joining the board or being a coach or whatever it is.”
Bogut will receive a 10 per cent share in the Kings when he retires and under his deal could buy another 40 per cent of the club.
Bogut commended Kings owner Harvey Lister and general manager Jeff van Groningen for the way they negotiated the deal.
“I was real comfortable with it. They understood my position,” Bogut said.
“They were like 'if we give you that much of an investment in the club then you go off and sign with say Essendon, if they are in the league, or Melbourne or whatever then that isnt fair to us'.
“I said I understand that, but from an athletes point of view, if I dont think Im ready for retirement I shouldnt be railroaded into it.”
