Coach Pero Cameron has named his Tall Blacks squad for the FIBA world championships in the Philippines, starting Friday night (NZ time).
The 12-strong group will be led by veteran Reuben Te Rangi, who has been named captain for his World Cup debut, after missing the 2019 tournament with injury.
Mainstays Finn Delany of NZ Breakers, Melbourne United's Shea Ili, and NBL stars Jordan Ngatai and Tohi Smith-Milner will play in their second straight World Cup.
Forward Isaac Fotu will join an exclusive club of Kiwis to have featured at three World Cups, which also includes NZ greats Kirk Penney, Mika Vukona and Tom Abercrombie.
At 20 years old, Tasmania JackJumpers guard Walter Brown is the youngest of the team, alongside fellow tournament newcomers in forward Hyrum Harris, star Breakers point guard Izayah Le'Afa, Melbourne United's Flynn Cameron, and Canterbury Rams guard Taylor Britt.
Germany-based Yanni Wetzell is the squad's only legitimate centre, suggesting Cameron will look to play at pace and with a barrage of outside shooting during the competition. Fellow centres Sam Timmins and Dan Fotu were the two left out from the team's month-long warm-up tour through Japan, Turkey, Germany and China.
New Zealand managed just two wins during that stretch, which came against Japan and a Chinese club team, with losses to Canada, Japan, China and Italy.
Te Rangi says he's honoured to lead his country into battle.
"This opportunity coming around now is amazing and I can't express how excited I am to be here and to play in this World Cup," said Te Rangi.
"To lead this team is an easy gig. We have a lot of leaders on our team and any one of the boys could've been captain.
"My style is to lead by example; I speak up every now and then when I need to, but otherwise it’s just lead by example."
New Zealand have been drawn in one of the most difficult groups at the World Cup, with Group C also featuring favourites USA, Greece, and Jordan.
They need to win at least two games to advance to the knockout stages, meaning they're likely targeting Jordan and hope they can upset the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Greeks.
Cameron says he's relieved to have his squad on the ground in Asia and ready to take the court for the games they've been building towards during a lengthy build up.
"Really happy to finally be here," he said. "There's nothing like getting to the World Cup and getting into Manila, and preparing for the challenge ahead of us.
"This last four to five week campaign of building towards this has been great and I’m just excited to be here."
New Zealand play their opener against the US at 12:40am, Sunday, then Jordan at 8:45pm, August 28, and finally Greece at 12:40am, August 30.
All of the games will be held at Manila's Mall of Asia Arena.
Tall Blacks World Cup squad: Flynn Cameron, Izayah Le'Afa, Shea Ili, Taylor Britt, Walter Brown, Reuben Te Rangi (capt), Jordan Ngatai, Finn Delany, Hyrum Harris, Isaac Fotu, Tohi Smith-Milner, Yanni Wetzell.
