Win first, score second

MILWAUKEE — Andrew Bogut starts to feel dizzy, and his vision gets blurry.

If the Milwaukee Bucks' rookie center doesn't recognize the onset of a migraine headache and take his medication right away, it quickly gets worse.

"It's terrible," Bogut said. "It's just like someone's hitting a hammer inside your head."

The chronic headaches also affected Bogut in college, sometimes leaving him bedridden for the day.

His last episode came March 24 in Los Angeles, and he didn't have his medication with him. Bogut had 10 points and five rebounds against the Lakers anyway.

It's that kind of understated toughness from Bogut that has helped the Bucks pull off a modest turnaround this season, Milwaukee general manager Larry Harris says.

"I talk about his basketball knowledge and his competitiveness all the time," Harris said. "A lot of guys don't know how mentally tough he is."

There hasn't been a lot of national buzz this season about Bogut, a consensus player of the year in college at Utah and the No. 1 pick in last year's draft.

He has scored more than 20 points only twice, and his biggest areas of contribution to date — defense and rebounding on a team that isn't known for either — don't get him on television highlight shows.

But Bogut would rather be known as a winner than a scorer, something he senses isn't the case with some other NBA players.

"It's human nature," Bogut said. "Some guys want to be the best, and that's how they show it. Me? I think being the best means winning games."

Bogut does have one stat in his favor: Only three other No. 1 picks since 1985 — Tim Duncan, Chris Weber and David Robinson — have taken their team to the playoffs as rookies.

Any deeper meaning there?

"I think I was just lucky to get drafted by a decent organization," Bogut said.

But Bucks coach Terry Stotts says Bogut has contributed a lot to the Bucks' improvement, from a 30-52 record last season to 40-42.

"What he's accomplished this year is kind of what Andrew's about: He's about winning, and doing what he needs to do for the team to be successful," Stotts said.

Bogut doesn't score a lot, but the Bucks haven't asked him to. He attempted 10 or more shots in only 19 games this season.