Head Coach of the New Zealand National Men's basketball team, the Tall Blacks, joins Dan Boyce on this episode to talk about his time in the NBL, Steven Adams chances of joining the squad in the future, how New Zealand basketballers aspire to play in the NBL and coaching plans for the Tall Blacks future.
Pero Cameron was a part of the inaugural New Zealand Breakers squad who entered the NBL in 2003 and went on to play five seasons in Australia. He was also a part of the inaugural Gold Coast Blaze team in 2007.
He played 130 NBL games and averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists and was one of the greatest "screen setters" in NBL history and a consummate professional.
His greatest success came whilst playing in the NZNBL where he is a 9-time NZNBL champion (1995-1997, 1999-2002, 2008, 2009) and for his efforts playing for the New Zealand national team, known as the Tall Blacks.
Pero was the captain of the New Zealand Team that defeated Australia in the Oceania championships in 2001 and achieved history by reaching the semi-finals of the FIBA World Championship in 2002.
Pero's achievements were recognised worldwide when he was named part of the FIBA Hall Of Fame in 2017.
Topics include...
The impact the Australian NBL had on aspiring basketballers in New Zealand basketball in the 1990s (2:00) The New Zealand Tall Blacks success defeat the Australian Boomers in 2001 (7:00) Finishing 4th at the 2002 FIBA World Championships (13:00) Facing Team USA at the 2002 FIBA World Championships (17:00) A chance to win a bronze medal in 2002 (22:00) The Tall Blacks FIBA drop off in 2004 and 2006 and what led to that (25:00) Pero's Tall Black career and what it means to him (28:00) The New Zealand Breakers enter the NBL in 2003 (30:00) The chances of New Zealand entering a second team in the NBL (34:00) Memories from the Breakers first season in the NBL (37:00) Playing for the New Zealand Breakers between 2003-06 (39:00) Playing for the Gold Coast Blaze and how he decided to retire (44:00) Coaching the New Zealand Tall Blacks (46:00) The chances we see NBA star Steven Adams suit up for the Tall Blacks next tournament (51:00) The biggest highlights and hurdles from Pero's career and what he learnt from them all (52:30)Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms.
Listen to our previous interviews with the biggest stars in Australian Basketball, head to Aussiehoopla.com. Check out previous podcasts featuring;
Australian Basketball Legends - Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Leroy Loggins, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin
Current NBL Stars - Jack White, Dejan Vasiljevic, AJ Ogilvy, Daniel Kickert, Thomas Abercrombie, Jason Cadee, Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Mitch McCarron, Cam Gliddon, Anthony Drmic, Brad Newley
Our Finest Coaching Minds - Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer
NBA Stars Past & Present - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton, Donald Sloan
The NBL's Greatest Imports - Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Mike Mitchell, Darnell Mee, Isaac Burton, Adonis Jordan, Shawn Redhage, Willie Farley, Al Green, Corey "Homicide" Williams, Andre Moore, Steve Woodberry, Mike Mitchell, Ebi Ere, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch
And the men who run things - Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chuck Harmison, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner
All that and much more.
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