Ready, or not
Adams talks Tall Blacks
‘‘Don’t make it about me. These players [the Tall Blacks] are going out there and playing, make it about them.’’ Steven Adams
Steven Adams has again refused to say when he’ll make himself available for the Tall Blacks.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star held a press conference at the Bruce Pulman Centre in South Auckland yesterday, where he was launching the latest of his basketball camps in New Zealand.
Not surprisingly, the conversation turned to his continued stance of not playing for New Zealand. He gave his usual answer that he’ll do so when the time is right.
It was hoped he could have been available for the recent games in New Zealand against Hong Kong in the place of his birth, Rotorua, and then against China in Auckland. But no.
‘‘I definitely considered it, I’m always in talks with Pauli [Henare, Tall Blacks coach] and stuff like that,’’ Adams said.
‘‘It’s just one of those things and I always say when the time is right, but I’m concentrating on just helping the kids.
‘‘These kids that we’re helping now, especially with this high performance thing, they’re going to make basketball in New Zealand better than what it is.
‘‘It ain’t just me, one player, it’s going to be a bunch of different players that went down this path and they’re going to propel basketball to another level and it’s taken more seriously.
‘‘People will look at us more seriously in the future, it’s just going to take time.’’
Adams is back in New Zealand this month to run three basketball camps for kids in Auckland, Palmerston North and Dunedin. Also, 40 hand-picked high school students will have the opportunity to participate in the Steven Adams High School Invitational.
Adams hopes these initiatives will make it easier for other New Zealanders to follow his path into the NBA. ‘‘My situation was weird, because it was pretty much down to luck,’’ he said.
‘‘Jamie Dixon, a college coach came over and he was, I think, having a look at Rob Loe.
‘‘He knew Kenny [McFadden, Adams’ mentor] and Kenny called him and brought him down, said ‘can you check this guy out’?
‘‘Then he gave me a scholarship, but he didn’t actually know about me. You can say that it’s luck, that I knew Kenny and he was able to contact him and bring him down.
‘‘Our goal is to make sure that it isn’t down to luck.
‘‘Say if that phone call didn’t happen, could I have done the same things? I don’t know, maybe not.
‘‘So I’m trying to create something that’s minimising that reliance on luck . . . just being a bit more strategic about it and getting control of the situation as best you can to make sure the kids get a good opportunity.’’
When asked what needs to fall in line for Adams to play for the Tall Blacks, Adams gave little away.
‘‘I don’t know. I think that’s between me and the Tall Blacks to be honest,’’ he said.
Adams then said he didn’t understand why there had been so much interest about when he’d play for his country.
‘‘Say if they’re personal fans of mine, that’s cool, but if you’re Tall Blacks fans then support the Tall Blacks.
‘‘I’m not playing for them, but if you are a fan then fair play,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m a fan of the Tall Blacks, watch the Tall Blacks, support them. It’s still a country thing.
‘‘These players are still going out there and playing for their country and that’s great.
‘‘Don’t make it about me. These players are going out there and playing, make it about them.
‘‘They deserve a lot more attention than I’m getting on their behalf. I find that weird, I’m not playing.’’
However, as one of the highest profile athletes in New Zealand, it’s logical that people want to see him in a Tall Blacks singlet and Adams did appear to understand that.
‘‘I do get that, but it’s more, support the players that are out there now,’’ he said.
‘‘I support them, you should support them too. I’ll play when the time is right.’’