McMains chasing hoops dream
Ross McMains remains fiercely true to his roots, even with his NBA coaching dream just one New York-sized step from becoming a reality.
The 29-year-old Americanborn Kiwi is back on board as an assistant coach with the Tall Blacks for the quickfire Fiba World Cup qualifying games against Hong Kong in Rotorua tonight and China in Auckland on Sunday.
It’s a role, and an environment, he treasures, which you know because McMains has made the long haul to New Zealand for the latest Fiba window when he really should be back in the US preparing for the NBA’s looming summer league in his new role with the New York Knicks.
McMains, who was born in the US but grew up on Waiheke Island has recently been appointed head video coordinator/player development for the Knicks under new head coach David Fizdale.
It’s a major job upgrade for McMains, who credits the Breakers with giving him his legup in the professional hoops world, after working the past two seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA’s G League, most recently with the Westchester Knicks, and before that with the Golden State Warriors’ Santa Cruz affiliate.
He now heads the Knicks’ extensive video scouting operation and will dive, when he can, into the area of individual player development, which has the 2016 Taranaki Mountain Airs coach hugely excited about potential pathways.
He has already had nearly a month with the Knicks, involved with pre-draft workouts and some of the younger players’ off-season regimes, and will return immediate after the China game on Sunday to join the club in Las Vegas for the Summer League.
‘‘It’s a foot in the door and an opportunity to grow,’’ he said ‘‘Hopefully my work and what I’m about to do and show will take care of the rest.’’
Meantime, McMains aims to relish his stint with the Tall Blacks in an environment he loves being part of.
‘‘The opportunity to come back and work with the Tall Blacks every year is an absolute privilege for me. It’s the best competitive atmosphere and culture I get to be around.’’
Even with the Webster brothers absent, McMains still likes the team coach Paul Henare has assembled.
China shapes as the big tester on Sunday, but McMains said the focus was firmly on a Hong Kong group that has strengthened since being walloped by the Tall Blacks by 59 in November.
‘‘It’s very much one game at a time,’’ he said of the mindset. ‘‘There’s no complacency. We’ve been practising at a high level every day, and some of the new things we’re doing and some new guys to the group adds a different dynamic.’’