Andrew Bogut a chance to play against the Kings

From Melbourne newspaper The Age........

NBA star Andrew Bogut expects to return to the court in the coming days after taking leave to deal with a personal issue.

Bogut missed the Milwaukee Bucks' clash with Utah on Wednesday (Melbourne time) to turn his attention to the matter that is believed to involve people close to the 27-year-old.

His Australian manager, Bruce Kaider, said Bogut did not want to publicise the ''personal problem'' but Bogut's teammate, Brandon Jennings, had told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Bogut had returned ''home''.

Kaider would not disclose whether Bogut had returned to Australia or just to Milwaukee.

''It's personal so we are certainly not going to make it public, but Andrew needed to deal with it and will be mostly likely back on court in a couple of days,'' he said.

''The Bucks were really kind in giving him time to get this resolved. It was one of those issues that if it's not dealt with could become bigger than needed.''

Kaider did not say what game Bogut expected to return for.

''It was nothing physical, Andrew is 100 per cent and could play tomorrow,'' he said.

The Bucks have missed Bogut's presence, losing to the Utah Jazz 85-73 on Wednesday. The team plays in Sacramento today.

Jennings told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he only found out about Bogut's absence on the bus to the Utah game.

''He said he had a personal problem going on back at home,'' Jennings said. ''You hope he's OK. I think it caught everybody by surprise.''

As of yesterday afternoon, Bogut, a prolific user of Twitter, had not tweeted since late on Tuesday.

Bogut is averaging 14.3 points a game and 10 rebounds from four matches this season.

Kaider also represents Australian point guard Patty Mills who was cut by Chinese Basketball Association side Xianjing Flying Tigers earlier this week after the side attempted to force him to play while recovering from a torn hamstring.

The Flying Tigers had accused Mills of faking the injury but Mills staunchly defended himself, saying he had sent two different X-rays to his Australian doctors who confirmed his hamstring was torn.

Kaider wouldn't comment on Mills or any negotiations between the player's representatives and the Flying Tigers because they were continuing yesterday.

But The Age understands Mills' camp may make an announcement about his playing future as early as today.

Under CBA rules, teams don't have to sign clearances for players, even if cut, until the end of the current season, which concludes in March.

Mills will need such a clearance to play anywhere else in the world. He expects to be fit to play in the next week and looks likely to attempt to return to the NBA where he spent last season with the Portland Trail Blazers.

He is unlikely to return to the NBL unless all NBA opportunities are exhausted.

Mills had averaged 26 points a game in 12 matches for the Flying Tigers, who had also sacked American coach Bob Donewald and released former NBA forward Kenyon Martin.