By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
New Zealand hopes to feature Steven Adams in its 2019 FIBA World Cup squad and included the Oklahoma City Thunder center in the preliminary squad. Both sides are still in talks about the his availability for the tournament set to take place in China between August 31st and September 15th. If Adams is included in Paul Henare’s final squad, he will debut with his National Team.
Tom Abercrombie, Yuat Alok, Taylor Britt, Max Darling, Finn Delany, Dan Fotu, Isaac Fotu, Tyrell Harrison, Shea Ili, Jarrod Kenny, Rob Loe, Jordan Ngatai, Kruz Perrott-Hunt, Alex Pledger, Taine Murray, Ethan Rusbatch, Tohi Smith-Milner, Reuben Te Rangi, Sam Timmins, Tom Vodanovich, Mika Vukona, Corey Webster, Tai Webster and Yanni Wetzell are the rest of the players in the preliminary roster.
New Zealand will begin preparations on August 1st at Auckland. Afterwards will travel to Japan for a couple of matches against the National Team on August 12th and 14th. Friendly games versus Canada on August 20th and 21st at Australia will follow, before affairs with France on August 24th, Serbia on August 25th and Italy on August 26th at China.
The Tall Blacks will compete in Group F of the World Cup facing Brazil on September 1st, Montenegro on September 3rd and Greece on September 5th at Nanjing. Group K or classification games will be next depending on their positioning in the initial Group Stage.