Steven Adams will play for NZ national team ‘when time is right’

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines might just see its own June Mar Fajardo go toe-to-toe with NBA center Steven Adams when the New Zealander finally suits up for the Tall Blacks.

Adams, who turns 24 in two days, said he will play for his home country’s national basketball team at some point.

“Yeah, definitely. When the time is right, I may be suiting up,” he told reporters in Manila on Tuesday, July 18 at the NBA Store in Glorietta to promote the NBA 3X Philippines event happening this weekend at the Mall of Asia.

The Oklahoma City Thunder big man, known as one of the few traditional centers in the NBA at present, has yet to play for New Zealand. There was some expectation he might participate in last year’s FIBA Olympic Qualifier held in Manila, where New Zealand defeated Gilas Pilipinas, but he was unable to do so as he negotiated his NBA contract.

“I wouldn’t call it recruiting,” Adams told Rappler during a one-on-one interview. “We’re just talking about when’s a good time because they understand my commitments with the NBA. Obviously that comes first.”

Should the 7-foot Adams join the Tall Blacks, he is likely to clash with the Philippine team due to the integration of FIBA Asia and FIBA Oceania in the Asian Qualifier that begins this November. Both countries will also join the FIBA Asia Cup next month in Lebanon.

Adams, a proud patriot of his home country, also has his own international basketball aspirations.

“Olympics would be cool, especially it’s in Japan (in 2020),” he said. “Japan’s like my favorite country.” – Rappler.com