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Andrew Bogut booed in bizarre twist to Sun Yang scandal

Australian Associated Press

China clearly hasn’t forgotten Andrew Bogut’s recent swipe at Sun Yang.

Bogut was theatrically booed by the Chinese crowd as Australia clinched a roller-coaster win in their opener at the Basketball World Cup against Canada.

Bogut (12 points, eight rebounds) played his part in a surprise subplot in China, welcomed onto the court with a chorus of boos that continued whenever he touched the ball until the final whistle.

Andrew Bogut and Sun Yang, pictured here in their respective sports.
Andrew Bogut was booed by Chinese fans after criticising Sun Yang. Image: Getty

Always outspoken on social media, the Sydney Kings' centre was inundated by Chinese trolls in July after weighing into the Sun Yang and Mack Horton swimming feud.

“Swimmers who medal vs Sun Yang should break the podiums with hammers......” he wrote on Twitter, referencing claims Sun smashed a vile of his own blood during a drug test.

Bogut also cheekily sent a welcome message to his "Chinese fans" when the team left Australia - and they were out in force to do just that.

Boomers stave off Canada comeback

The Boomers led by 17 points approaching halftime but soon trailed as a rampant Canada scored 16 consecutive points either side of the break.

It was bench spark Chris Goulding (16 points at 87 per cent shooting), having already dropped seven points in the first quarter, who returned to stop the rot as the Boomers steadied and pulled away in Sunday's final term in Dongguan.

Matthew Dellavedova (24 points) found range with his new-look jump shot in a shared offensive display, while Canadian trio Cory Joseph (16 points), Kevin Pangos (14) and high-flying Khem Birch (18) did their best.

Joe Ingles had 13 points and 10 assists while Patty Mills added 15 and six - with six Boomers scoring 10 or more points.

Andrew Bogut, pictured here during Australia's win over Canada.
Canada's Kyle Wiltjer fights for the ball with Australia's Andrew Bogut. (Photo by YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images)

The win sets Australia up nicely in a tough pool, likely needing just one more win against either Senegal or world No.6 Lithuania later this week to progress to the second round.

The Boomers shot at 64 per cent from the field in that term, with Goulding's late triple giving them a 29-20 lead at the first break.

That was a margin they slowly increased in the second term with points coming through Mills and Jock Landale, while Bogut copped another verbal serve as he finished a one-handed alley-oop.

The Boomers were able to absorb Canada's best hit, producing crucial stops early in the fourth quarter before Dellavedova shot Australia to a hard-earned win.