‘Time for fans to focus on the Tall Blacks — not me’

Steven Adams has a message to Kiwi basketball fans continually questioning when he’ll play for the national team.

“If you’re a Tall Blacks fan, then support the Tall Blacks.

“Don’t make it about me.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder star was scrutinised in recent months for again making himself unavailable for selection for the New Zealand representative side.

While he has repeatedly said he will front for the side “when the time is right”, he addressed the situation again yesterday.

“I’m not playing for them but if you’re a fan — I’m a fan of the Tall Blacks — then watch them and support them. It’s still a country thing. These players are still going out there and playing for the country, that’s great. They deserve a lot more attention than I’m getting.”

While he hasn’t played for the national side, he said he was in regular contact with Tall Blacks coach Paul Henare.

Adams was back in New Zealand this week hosting the first of three camps for young players around the country. The camps began in Auckland, and visit Palmerston North and Dunedin.

With Adams one of just three Kiwis in the NBA — alongside Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks and New York Knicks head video coordinator and player development coach Ross McMains — he said the goal of his camps was to put Kiwis in a position to obtain scholarships, if not go on to making the NBA or WNBA.