Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams has reiterated his intention to pull on the Tall Blacks jersey but remains reluctant to commit any further beyond that, insisting he'll turn out for the national side "when the time is right".
Adams is back in the country alongside Thunder teammate Andre Roberson,
for a series of kids basketball camps, telling media at the tour's final stop in Auckland of the "really good relationship" he has with national coach Paul Henare.
The 25-year-old said he'd been following the New Zealand's efforts at the Asia Cup with a keen eye, and spoke of his admiration for Henare's vision and leadership in guiding a developmental squad to a fourth place finish.
"What he's doing with the group that he took over now is really, really huge," said Adams, who became New Zealand's highest-paid sports person last year after signing a new contract with the Thunder worth more than $NZ120 million.
"That's just respect to him, he's fighting for what's going to take basketball in New Zealand to another level.
"He has a vision of how he sees the Tall Blacks and how he wants them to play. You can't help but follow dudes that are that passionate."
When it came to his expanding on his own propsects for a national debut Adams was slightly less forthcoming, but admitted to having been inspired by what he saw in Beirut by the green group of players who "rocked over" for New Zealand's first ever appearance at the tournament.
"Absolutely. You can just see the potential and where you can go from here," he replied when asked if their performance had fuelled his international fire.
"It was really entertaining and energetic, there's a lot of potential there. That's why I was locked in so much with it."
The fortunes of the national side depend on far more than what any one individual can offer, said Adams.
"You can't solely rely on one player, our system has got to be good.
"Say I don’t exist, there's still a problem – we still need to produce these players. That's what we're talking about and that's what we're working on.
"But yeah, when the time is right, I'll help out."
Looking ahead to the upcoming NBA season, the situation in Oklahoma is looking much brighter after the acquisition via trade of All Star forward Paul George.
A quintessential swingman and proven terror at both ends of the court, Adams spoke of the value added both on and off the court, in his own understated way.
"Yeah, should be good," he quipped.
"The front office does a great job of bringing in really good people that fit well in the locker-room, because that’s all that matters...but if you screw up the locker-room then you'll just still lose games.
"We're just lucky that Paul George is really, really good.
"I still need to meet him, haven't met him yet."
With an attendance of over 1000 through the previous two stops in Christchurch and Wellington and many more among the action in Takanini, the camp had been another rousing success, said Adams.
"It's always good man. The kids are just showing a lot of enthusiasm, bro, it makes it much easier to teach.
"Especially Kiwi kids, they're just really hyper and passionate – and well-mannered too, which is always good."
He'd also enjoyed another opportunity to show off his beloved Aotearoa to the considerable American contingent who joined him, with Thunder head coach Billy Donovan a part of the tour group before being forced to depart on Monday morning.
"My main focus was just showing them what our culture is as a country. Trying to teach them where I'm off from, introduce them to my family and what not."
Roberson and Adams share a special bond, having been part of the same draft class back in 2013, and the defensive-specialist spoke of the growth he'd seen in his cohort's overall game since they made the leap to the professional realms.
"His facial features and hair have come a long way, just like his game," Roberson joked.
"We've clicked since day one, since we took that jet back to Oklahoma City after we got drafted," said Roberson.
"He's been great – he's been developing every year.
Eventually, Roberson succumbs to Adams' incessant nudging.
"Oh yeah, and his shooting is great."
Adams will now move on to headline his own charity golf tournament on Friday, before returning State-side later in the weekend.
Newshub.
