Basketball: Marks signs million dollar NBA deal

5.00pm

JACKSONVILLE - Sean Marks has signed a one-year contract with National Basketball Association team the San Antonio Spurs.

Marks, who played for San Antonio last year, has missed the Tall Blacks early pre-Olympic matches in the US due to contract negotiations, but today he confirmed the US$750,000 ($1.19 million) deal.

Marks also played for the Tall Blacks in their 68-94 loss to the US here today.

The power forward -- who was the first New Zealander to play in the NBA -- didn't get a game with the former champions last season but his coach Gregg Popovich said the team hoped to get him on court this season.

"As a player he's a good shooter. He has good skills, good hands and good enough athleticism and this season he will be important to us," Popovich said.

"Last season he was just learning the system. He worked every day with Tim Duncan and Malik Rose and Rasho Nesterovic, he knew he wasn't going to play and still worked as hard."

"That's why we're signing him today, but this time he's coming back with the idea of getting some minutes on the court."

"Nesterovic will start and Rose will be in that rotation but we need another big to be involved and that's where Sean comes in."

Marks' hard work off the court, positive attitude and unpretentious, easy going personality helped convince the Spurs to re-sign him on a minimum contract.

"Character and the way people conduct themselves, you don't have to be boy scouts but it's important to us," Popovich, also the US Olympic team's assistant coach said.

"He has values important to the programme that we run. He's a team player. He has humility and a work ethic and he cares about the success of his teammates and that's the kind of people we're looking for."

Meanwhile Marks' Tall Blacks teammate and shooting guard Phill Jones signed a one-year deal with his former team Cantu in the Italian league.

Jones was released from the New Zealand Breakers after his first year.

New Zealand may have one more warm-up match before their first Olympic game against Italy on August 15.

The Tall Blacks are hoping to play hosts Greece in Athens on August 12.

- NZPA