Former Tall Blacks great Pero Cameron will become to the first New Zealander to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.
The 43-year-old had an illustrious career with the Tall Blacks which spanned over 17 years, which included competing in two Olympic Games, three World Championships, and winning silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Basketball New Zealand CEO Iain Potter said Cameron's recognition was wholly deserved and an incredible honour for the man, New Zealand and for the sport.
"Pero has been such a massive influence on the game, on and off the court," Potter said in a statement.
"His strength and presence as an amazing player and the sheer power of his personality has been such that he truly is a giant of the game, in literal and metaphorical terms.
"On behalf of the Board, the team at Basketball New Zealand and the entire basketball community, here and in Australia where he now lives with his family, I congratulate Pero on this wonderful and deserved recognition of an outstanding career."
The biggest achievement of Cameron's career was when he led the Tall Blacks to fourth place at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
In the tournament, Cameron averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game and became the only non-NBA player to make the all-tournament team. He was joined on this team by established NBA superstars Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic
and NBA rookies-to-be Yao Ming and Manu Ginobili.
One of his teammates on that roster and current Tall Blacks coach Paul Henare was delighted with the news.
"I was over the moon, he deserves it," Henare said.
"He has just had such an amazing career and done so much for basketball in our country and relatively speaking, he is an unsung hero in the greater scheme of things, so to see him get this recognition is amazing. I am extremely proud of him and happy for him to get this sort of recognition.
"He is so well known, I don't know a comparison but Wynton Rufer I hear was similar on a world stage for what he did, and Pero is exactly the same.
"No matter where we are in the world we walk in a gym and someone knows him and his story and what he has achieved and the player that he was, and that speaks volumes.
"Physically he was unique in terms of the way he played. The skill set, the IQ, the steely nerves and the clutch plays he made is what made him so special."
The former power-forward is currently in Lebanon with the Tall Blacks, serving as an assistant coach.
When told of the news at a practice session, the Tall Blacks turned in a passionate and heartfelt rendition of their haka, Tu Kaha O Pango.
Cameron will be officially inducted at a ceremony in Geneva in late September.
Currently members in the Hall of Fame include Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, and Oscar Robertson.
The Tall Blacks face Australia in their next match of the FIBA Asia Cup, with the winner to play in the final.
Newshub.
