Andrew Bogut, the Australian basketballer is now officially in the top four of Australia's sporting rich list after signing a five-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks worth about $37 million.

This comes after being selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft recently.

Media reports suggest "his earnings are expected to soar even higher when endorsements and sponsorship deals are factored in."

For example, the 213-cm or 7-foot tall basketballer has already picked up a Nike contract that is reportedly worth $6.7 million over the next five years and Bogut is in line for a sports drink endorsement.

But his media comments critical of famous Australian names such as Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal, could damage his personal brand.

What he needs is media training to be able to handle the world's media spotlight.

Here's what he said in the media limelight on signing.

"I think I'm much more competitive and much more of a winner than a lot of those guys.

"With those guys, over their careers they didn't really show much improvement,"

Ouch! When you throw comments like that out in the public arena you can't take them back.

And, while he may be confident, the media love conflict, especially a cynical Australian media.

And he's learnt fast how undisciplined comments can come undone.

Especially at critical moments such as his signing when he's in the public eye.

He's now having to clarify his comments every time he speaks to the media as his comments at a recent media conference indicate.

"I wanna say something before I start, to everybody," Bogut said. "I'm not answering questions about the whole Luc Longley issue. I'm not commenting on it. It was taken out of context."

So, a tough lesson for the 20-year old from Melbourne with Croatian parents.

How could he have handled it better?

Here are five lessons from the Bogut Media Blunder.

1. Don't Pass Judgments On Others In Public
Keep your personal views to yourself.

2. Compliment, Don't Criticise
Always compliment others and be positive.

3. Be Humble
Confidence is good but those who are most influential link this with humility.

4. Let Your Actions Speak For Themselves
Enough said.

5. Get Good Advisors Around You
In this case, this whole stoush could have been avoided with good advice and some clear thinking and coaching prior to his media conference.

Thomas Murrell

Thomas Murrell is an International Business Speaker and Managing Director of 8M Media and Communications, an integrated media, marketing and management consulting company.

Described by BRW Magazine as "committed to using creativity as a competitive edge", he is recognised as an expert on how to be media and marketing savvy.

His Integrity Marketing, Brand Building and Winning the Media Game topics are full of real life experiences and practical advice.

In a former life he was a TV and radio personality, executive producer and senior media executive ? describing his 12 years at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as an "apprenticeship".

The author of Media Fundamentals, How to Turn Your Big Marketing Idea into a Competitive Advantage and Web Marketing Essentials, he has just released his signature Media & Marketing Masterclass? series on six interactive CD-ROMs.

He uses metaphors from his experience as a National Junior Hammer Throw Champion to demonstrate the ?power of positive spin? and a Vincent Fairfax Fellowship helps put this within the context of ethical leadership.

Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 marketing and PR professionals in 15 different countries. You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com/

Write to Thomas Murrell at tom@8mmedia.com/.