Australia's best basketballer Andrew Bogut has paid tribute to the late boxing great Muhammad Ali.
Speaking to US reporters at the NBA Finals in Oakland, California, Bogut described the admiration Australians, not just sports fans, had for the heavyweight champion and social crusader.
"It's a sad day not just for sport, but he was a crucial social figure and everything he did away from the ring was impactful on many people's lives outside of boxing," Bogut, the starting centre for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, said.
"It's very rare that you have a sportsman, especially a boxer, be known by people who have no clue about boxing.
"He's a cult figure worldwide.
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"I don't think there's one part of the world you can go to that would not know what Muhammad Ali was about even if they knew nothing about boxing."
Ali, 74, died on Friday in Scottsdale, Arizona, from Parkinson's disease complications.
NBA superstars LeBron James and Bogut's teammate Stephen Curry also praised Ali.
"When an icon like Muhammad Ali passes away, it's very emotional," James said. "It's also gratifying to know that a guy, one man, would sacrifice so much in his individual life knowing that it would better the next generation of men and women after him."
Curry always admired how Ali used his status and popularity as an athlete to speak passionately about what he believed in.
"Ali was the example of how you use your platform and speak what you believe no matter what people will say," Curry said.
