Adams too big for his size 18 boots?

‘‘Officials in New Zealand proudly claim that basketball is this country’s fastest-growing sport, and NBA star Adams is the force behind that velocity.’’

Steven Adams is a big guy, with the profile to match. But some believe the Kiwi basketball colossus has become a little too big for his size 18 boots. Adams, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA, has once more declined to don the black shirt and represent his country.

The pleas of coach Paul Henare, Basketball NZ and many fans have been heard and rejected. Adams will play at some point, ‘‘but I need to be ready’’.

That has inspired frustration, confusion and some anger from fans and officials, particularly Adams’ admission that one of his reasons is a perceived lack of support from Basketball NZ when he was a less high-profile youngster struggling to pay his way on national tours and trials.

That part is hard to reconcile, although it is clear he remains deeply affected by what he regards as a snub by basketball bureaucracy.

We have more sympathy for Adams’ belief that he is doing more to represent his country and expand the sport here by performing at such a high level in one of the greatest tournaments in world sport. Basketball is one of those sports in which its premier club competition, rather than its international equivalent, represents the pinnacle. Officials in New Zealand proudly claim that basketball is this country’s fastest-growing sport, and NBA star Adams is the force behind that velocity.

Rugby league is possibly another of note; State of Origin is essentially a regional competition that consistently trumps the global game in quality, coverage and prestige.

Just as importantly, money talks and athletes, even the big ones like Adams, have to listen to the club bosses who pay their wages. Moral dilemmas are often sorted out by the depth of the dollar.

It’s clear that footballer Winston Reid would like to play more games for the All Whites but the concerns of his employer, West Ham United, appear to weigh a little more heavily at the moment.

Again, it’s likely that Reid turning out for the Hammers in the world’s premier club football competition is of greater service to the sport in New Zealand than a friendly against the Solomon Islands in overheated Honiara.

The views of many are coloured by their reverence for the All Blacks jersey, but rugby is a sport in which international honours remain supreme, and are often the stepping stone to bigger paydays. Rather than the other way round.

But even within our great national game, the black ‘‘blood’’ that we are told runs so deep appears to be a little thinner in those years not crowned by a World Cup, when players sometimes chase shortterm gains of the overseas dollar.

That does not mean that they do not love their country, are being disrespectful or are somehow working against it. It’s simply that they, like Adams, Reid, etc, are having to set priorities in a competitive global sporting business in which their window of opportunity is small and international competition is just one, sometimes minor, component.

If Adams continues to blaze a trail for Kiwis in basketball’s premier competition, he may end up repaying our faith and support many times over.