Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams doesn't realise what he's missing by choosing not to be a part of a "special" Tall Blacks playing group, says NZ head coach Paul Henare.
Buoyant after his team's convincing win over China in Auckland on Sunday, Henare spoke of the exceptional character within his side, best exemplified by forward Issac Fotu's decision to forego an opportunity with the Boston Celtics in favour of suiting up for his country.
Henare stopped short of hanging Fotu up as an example for Oklahoma City Thunder star Steven Adams, who's proved an elusive recruit for the national side.
About to enter his sixth NBA campaign, the 24-year-old has yet to make an appearance for the Tall Blacks, preferring to remain in the US and work with trainers through the off-season.
Henare explained that while he'd been relentless in his pursuit of Adams, the Oklahoma City Thunder centre had obviously drawn his line in the sand early.
"He told me no a long time ago," he told Newshub. "I just wanted to keep trying and trying to see if I could get him in here.
“He made that choice - it's just one of those things."
His addition would clearly be an enormous boost for the Tall Blacks on several levels, and Henare's confident it'd only take a small taste of the team's tight-knit environment and camaraderie to lure him long-term.
"I don’t think he realises what he's missing out on. We're really just trying to get him in here, so he can experience how special this group of people is.
"I feel like once he does, he'll never want to turn down the chance to play for us again.
"When the time is right, we'd love to have him. He makes us a better team and I think he'd lift the other guys."
A scheduling clash with the international calendar means that time isn't likely to come until next year’s World Cup in China.
"The next three windows are pretty much through the NBA pre-season and season," says Henare.
"We won't have an opportunity again until next year's world championships and we'll revisit that when the time comes. Obviously, we'd love to have him be a part of our group and come on that journey with us.
"But between now and then, we'll just enjoy the Steven Adams ride that he gives us in playing so well for OKC."
As far as Fotu is concerned, they're just pleased to have someone of his ilk leading the next generation of New Zealand players.
The path from a Summer League berth to an NBA deal isn't well trodden, but it’s a sacrifice thatspeaks for itself.
"We recognised it as a team at one of our meetings, about how special that is and what that meant," Henare says. "It’s the best example you could ever use of what playing for this team means to these guys.
"We're lucky to have him, he's a real talent. But more importantly, the passion and the mana that he has in playing for his country is really special."
Newshub.
