Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams has paid tribute to Kenny McFadden - the man largely credited with his rise to the NBA - after his death.
McFadden has died at the age of 61, after a battle with polycystic kidney disease, leaving a legacy as one of the true greats of basketball in New Zealand.
Among McFadden's greatest achievements was Adams' rise from Rotorua to the Wellington Saints in New Zealand's NBL, before making it in America.
His tutelage saw Adams travel to the US, firstly to Notre Dame Prep school in Massachusetts, before playing college basketball with Pittsburgh in 2012.
In 2013, Adams was drafted by NBA side Oklahoma City Thunder, where he spent seven seasons, before being traded to New Orleans Pelicans, who in turn traded him to Memphis Grizzlies for 2021/22.
Taking to Twitter, Adams has penned his own tribute to McFadden, who accepted the now-superstar into his training programme and emphasised the completion of schoolwork that allowed Adams to secure his US scholarships.
"Kenny McFadden was not just a coach, but a father figure for a lot of us who had the privilege of being coached by him," Adams writes.
"First impressions of him were always positive, because of his contagious smile and swag.
"I'm one of many who have benefitted from him changing my life. Whether it was academics or on the court, he was always armed with a story/ legend to keep me on my path.
"He will live on through the memories and values he has given us.
"Thank you for believing in me."
NZ National Basketball League general manager Huw Beynon also explains the connection between Adams and McFadden, as well as his work in youth development across multiple levels.
"A lot of people know him as the man who nurtured or mentored Steven Adams, set him on his way to NBA stardom," adds Beynon.
"He's given so much to Wellington basketball and to New Zealand basketball. It's terrible news.
"I'm not personal friends with Steven Adams or anything like that, but Kenny Mac was such a huge part of getting him to where he got.
"Steven's been on the record saying that, how much Kenny did for him as a young kid. He was a youngie coming out of Rotorua, Kenny helped get him to Wellington.
"Young kids from Rotorua didn't go to the NBA. Kenny saw that potential in him, helped him get over to the States to do the year of prep school and then into the NBA.
"Steven owes so much to Kenny Mac, as so many people do in New Zealand basketball."
