As the USA basketball team begins the process of constructing its roster that will contain a slew of talented players from the NBA, other nations around the world are doing what they can to combat the heavy favorite in the International Basketball Association’s 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Among the nations set to participate is Steven Adams’ country, New Zealand. Nicknamed the Tall Blacks, New Zealand will be in Group F and face Greece, Brazil and Montenegro. Should New Zealand move on, it could face the US team that will likely win Group E (Turkey, Czech Republic and Japan) in the first round.
New Zealand hopes to feature the Oklahoma City Thunder center in its quest for the cup and has included him among the 25 players being considered for the team. New Zealand head coach Paul Henare explained the situation to Basketball New Zealand:
Basketball New Zealand has been in regular communication with Steve and his agency and management at OKC. We will look to conclude those conversations in the weeks ahead, but clearly, Steve is a player we want wearing the black singlet.
Henare continued:
What he would bring to the team is international size, what he can do at the defensive end of the floor is phenomenal, with his ability to block and change shots and what he does from a rebounding perspective at both ends of the floor. That is something we have rarely had at our disposal is that genuine size and athleticism at that pivot spot. Obviously, we would love to have him, but ultimately that decision comes down to Steve.
The 2019 FIBA World Cup is being hosted by China and runs from August 31 to September 15.
