Steven Adams Isn’t Playing For The Tall Blacks Again… So What?
Please, please, please don’t be one of those silly people who thinks that Steven Adams has some kind of obligation to play for the Tall Blacks and that refusing to do so is some kind of national scandal. It’s a remarkably dull argument to keep having to have. Steven Adams is Aotearoa’s number one ambassador doing more for this country with his NBA exploits than he could ever do in a couple of relatively meaningless home qualifiers. Just chiiiiiill, mate.
Sure, the timing was as good as it’s been. The Tall Blacks have two home games coming up against Hong Kong and then China, coinciding with Adams happening to be in the country during his NBA offseason, and one of those games is even in his hometown of Rotorua. But that doesn’t necessarily make a difference. While he’s here he’s doing charity work and basketball camps. He’s already a busy bugger and this while the dude’s supposed to be on holiday.
That not enough of an explanation? Okay then how about the fact that these games don’t even really matter? The game against Hong Kong is completely pointless. We beat them 133-74 over there and could have a stronger team in Rotorua, it’d take a miracle to lose that. Having Steven Adams play would just be cruel. The game against China is a bit more relevant since results carry over to the second round. Both teams have already qualified for that next stage and China, as hosts of the next World Cup, are guaranteed eventual qualification regardless. But, again, we beat them 82-73 in Dongguan so a rematch in Auckland is gonna see the Tall Blacks as favourites either way.
The second round of qualifying begins in September which is the only further chance that Steven Adams would have to suit up before the World Cup itself, should the Tall Blacks make it. The rest of those games occur during the next NBA season. A season in which Adams will earn US$22.4 million, by the way. You can say that he’s already got the contract so what’s the big deal but that contract means that Adams owes the Oklahoma City Thunder organisation a fair bit of loyalty. No kidding that the Thunder would much rather he takes care of himself before preseason instead of playing a pair of basically meaningless qualifiers.
Most of the sizzling hot takers are only looking at this from a New Zealand perspective. Adams is not. He’ll be in constant communication with the OKC organisation, he’s probably even got a few reps making the trip out here. Paul Henare had a few yarns with him along the way but to no avail. Probably because Paul Henare’s influence pales in comparison to the might of a full NBA franchise.
Steven Adams has repeatedly said that he wants to represent his national team. He will one day, no doubt about it. The thing is there’s no reason for him to play in any of these qualifiers, if the Tall Blacks can’t beat these teams without him then they’re not going to be able to do much at the World Cup with him. But build a strong enough team to make it to the FIBA World Cup in 2019, which Paul Henare is well on the way to doing, and the injection of a genuine NBA starter and a defensive anchor would be immense.
That’s when you can keep those fingers crossed. The World Cup will feature 32 teams for the first time ever and has been delayed a year so as not to coincide with the football World Cup. Basketball isn’t a side sport any more. It’s one of the most popular sports on the planet and this next World Cup is poised to reinforce that. There’ll be NBA players from all over putting pressure on their teams to let them play, clearing the path for someone like Steven Adams to get such permission too. And, realistically, those major tournaments are the only games which he should be expected to consider. Anything else is an incredible bonus.
Honestly, it’s no different than what the All Whites just went through. Winston Reid and Chris Wood are established Premier League players. The Premier League, like the NBA, is full of absolute dollars and is notoriously volatile. Winston’s learning that right now as his injury coinciding with a new manager could potentially leave his future at West Ham in doubt. These players have too much to lose to be playing a glorified friendly tournament in India. This is normal in international sports. Rugby has warped people’s view of these things in this country.
Chuck in a bunch of USA-based players whose league didn’t break for the All Whites games and what the manager did instead was pick a side with an eye on depth and development and, what do you know, they had a great couple weeks with a few new players really emerging as guys with heaps of international potential. The Tall Blacks can do the same thing here. Taking for granted that the top few players will always be available leads to you rely on them too much. But construct a quality team without them and then you’re really poised to do something special.
The Tall Blacks have named twenty players for a training camp prior to a twelve-man roster being picked for the qualifiers at the end of the month. Steven Adams is unavailable… but so is Alex Pledger. So is Tai Webster with his NBA dream coming around again. So is Corey Webster who is playing in China at the moment (and doing superbly, btw). So is Shea Ili with his NBA mini-camp going on. Shea Ili and Corey Webster may still make the final roster, though.
Instead look at a handful of college standouts who’ve managed to sneak back home for this. Jack Salt, Tobias Cameron, Jackson Stent and Isaac Letoa are all exciting talents. Or how about local prospects Max Darling and Kruz Perrot-Hunt, a couple of teenagers. There’s still heaps of reliable experience from the likes of Mika Vukona, Tom Abercrombie, Rob Loe, Isaac Fotu and Reuben Te Rangi. This will be a very decent squad, don’t even worry.
As for the frankly insulting accusation that Steven Adams is somehow less of a passionate New Zealander because of this stance, anyone who says that is a dumbarse. Steven Adams does more to represent Aotearoa with what he does in the NBA, on and off the court, than most of us could even conceive. The man is a treasure. We don’t call him Kiwi Steve for nothing.
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