Andrew Bogut will serve as an assistant coach for the Australian national team when they meet New Zealand in an Olympic qualifying series.

Bogut hoped to play in the series, but Basketball Australia was unable to insure his NBA contract.

Head coach Brett Brown joked Thursday "he'll be my richest assistant coach. He's fantastic about wanting to play, but with injury and insurance issues with the NBA lockout, he'll play his role from the bench next to me."