Steven Adams, the great Stevie Adams won't be lining up for the Tall Blacks in their Olympic qualification tournament in July. 

The Tall Blacks will head to the Philippines in July, where they will face France and the host nation in pool games. A win here would see the Tall Blacks qualify for the next phase of this tournament where they would cross-over against a team from the other pool consisting of Turkey, Senegal and Canada. Only the winner qualifies for the Olympics from this tournament along with two other winners from two other qualifying tournaments.

That's to say that the Tall Blacks' chances are very slim, perhaps only the Philippines have slimmer chances.

Steven Adams could have made a crucial difference, he might not have.

We'll never really know.

Adams cited the NBA post-season and uncertainty surrounding Oklahoma City's Championship hopes as the main reason why he opted not declare himself available for the Rio qualification tourny. 

This follows the same trend in similar instances where Adams has chosen the Thunder over the Tall Blacks and in my opinion, fair enough.

Look around the world at kiwi sportsmen and women and you'll struggle to find one more passionate about Aotearoa than Adams. Trying to juggle Tall Blacks shenanigans with his NBA career is too trick a task.

That this announcement has come late in February and not closer to the start of the tournament, when perhaps Adams and his Thunders' future is a bit more certain, allows Tall Blacks coach Paul Henare to prepare without Adams. Henare can now focus on the players he does have available and how he'll get the best out of them.

While it would be nice to have Adams leading a Tall Blacks haka and wearing the black singlet, Adams should only be seen as a bonus for the Tall Blacks.

Such is the professional basketball landscape that Adams' decision isn't as simply as wanting to or not wanting to represent his country. A new contract, an NBA ring and all of that stuff doesn't make this a black and white issue.

One day Adams will play for the Tall Blacks, one day.

For now we continue to hope that the stars align ahead of this qualifying tournament in July. 

I'm not confident and would still lack confidence if Adams was there. 

Ya never know, so here's to hoping that the Tall Blacks do something crazy in the Philippines.