Timing right for Adams’ NZ debut
USA TODAY SPORTS THE Tall Blacks believe the timing is perfect for NBA star Steven Adams to end his selfimposed exile from international basketball.
The 23-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder starting centre has never played for the Tall Blacks, despite making it clear throughout his NBA career that he is a proud New Zealander and one day hopes to represent his country.
Until now, as he has worked through the four years of his rookie contract with the Thunder, the timing has never been right to make himself available for the national team.
But Tall Blacks head coach Paul Henare is hopeful that 2017’s programme, and specifically the team’s historic participation in the Fiba Asian Cup in August, will allow the OKC star to finally pull on the famous black singlet.
And he has started negotiations to open that door.
‘‘I would like to think the Asian champs is a good option for him,’’ Henare told Sunday News.
‘‘It doesn’t directly clash with anything, the pressure is off, and it’s away from home soil. I’ve reached out to his agent to start that ball rolling. Even if he could just come in for that tournament it would be a good place to start.
‘‘But he’s got to weigh things up. Every off-season he’s had has been really busy in terms of his camps, and building his brand and things like that.
‘‘In terms of having direct conversations with him personally we’ll have to wait till after his season.’’
This is the first year the Tall Blacks, and Australia’s Boomers, are playing in the Asian zone as part of Fiba’s new international alignment.
And it’s a relatively light programme, with only the Asia Cup from August 10-20 in Lebanon to come in the traditional international time slot.
There is also a November window when World Cup qualifying games will start, but Adams will be a non-starter for that because the NBA does not interrupt its season for international hoops.
Adams has already signed a $US100 million four-year contract extension with the Thunder which kicks in next season, making him New Zealand’s highest paid professional sportsman.
Henare also confirmed he anticipates having long-term starting shooting guard Corey Webster available for another campaign.
Webster has parted ways with the Henare-coached Breakers, after the club elected not to re-sign him, and has been snapped up by staunch rivals and back-to-back ANBL champions the Perth Wildcats. But Henare said he had been given no indication that would impact on Webster’s availability for the national team.
‘‘Corey loves playing for New Zealand and wants to play for his country.
‘‘I will have a chat with him and see where his body is at and where his mind is at.
‘‘Some could see it as an awkward situation in terms of what happened with our club, but in the Tall Blacks he’s a massive part of our group.’’
The Tall Blacks could conceivably put together their strongest team in many years, with USbased collegians Tai Wynyard, Jack Salt, Matt Freeman and Sam Waardenburg all said to be keen, and Spain-based Isaac Fotu also a likely starter.
Veteran skipper Mika Vukona is a likely defection in 2017 as he takes some time off to get his body right for the 2017-18 ANBL season.
Meanwhile, Adams and his Thunder team suffered a disappointing 100-95 home NBA defeat to the San Antonio Spurs yesterday. her second.
All things considered, she must have been satisfied with her work as she was steady with her irons and battled to find the magic that has been missing from her putter.
Ko briefly dropped back to oneunder in her second round when she bogeyed the par-four sixth, but then steadied the ship nicely to record birdies at eight, nine and 11 to work to four-under.
From there she looked poised to challenge the leaders, but just couldn’t find the finishing flourish she was chasing. The 19-year-old did well to save par on 15 when she made a nice sand save after finding the right rough off the tee, but remained anchored on four-under through her final seven holes.
For the second straight round the Kiwi had 31 putts which was a firm sign she has yet to get that side of her game humming, but 11 of 14 fairways and 15 greens in regulation indicated she was solid off the tee and with her long irons
Earlier, Ko had resumed on two-under after a birdie on two of her first five holes.
At the halfway stage, Pettersen leads by a shot from a group of six on six-under, including Korea’s Inbee Park, Americans Cristie Kerr and Nelly Korda and Australia’s Minjee Lee.