Basketball: The top shot who kept growing

When Phill Jones was a little basketballer growing up on the West Coast he didn't in his wildest dreams see himself playing at world championships and the Olympics.

Jones is one of the best basketballers this country has produced, proving himself in the tough leagues of Europe and on the world stage at the Olympics and in Indianapolis last year.

Now he's back, part of the backbone of the new Breakers side that starts in the Australian league in October, star for the Nelson Giants in the national league and back with the Tall Blacks, where he's been since 1994.

Now he knows the national side is good enough to make an international impact, but also knows they won't be able to sneak up on anyone any more, as they did on the Australians in 2001 when the Tall Blacks qualified for Indianapolis.

The Australians are unhappy that their best-ever performance at a world championships has been matched by the poor cousins.

"A number of these players could make it in Europe," the shooting guard said as he watched the Tall Blacks practise at the Akoranga campus on the North Shore this week, nursing a toe infection.

He's confident that when they have American-based Sean Marks and Kirk Penney, the injured Tony Rampton and Pero Cameron back in top form, and have the veterans and newcomers firing the squad can again win in the big time.

"The overseas experience the players are getting now is good for us," Jones said.

Age 29, he's been playing in Finland then Greece and lately Italy.

When he first went to Finland, winning a national title with Koulot in the 1998-99 season, their league was comparable with New Zealand's. Now, he rates our domestic league as vastly better.

In Greece there was a big step up in size of the players as well as in performance.

In Italy he found it very physical, 32 games in a season for his Cantu side, sponsored by gadget company Oregon Scientific.

He rates Italy as in the top three or four leagues outside America's NBA.

The money would have been much better for him in Europe. But after years of learning not much more than how to order food in three languages he has returned to New Zealand with partner Katherine, a teacher.

Their aim is to settle down and enjoy a lifestyle. He hasn't had a proper Christmas or a summer for several years.

But it's not a break from basketball, as he stepped up for the then-struggling Giants the day after he flew back and has since help lift them into finals contention.

Now he's shifting from Nelson practice to the Breakers practice to the Tall Blacks practice.

He has now signed to the Jeff Green-coached Breakers for two years. He enjoys the shift in styles from Green's fast-break game to Baldwin's more structured use of the triangle approach.

"It's not difficult to adjust. The Tall Blacks run more set-plays. The Breakers want to play more up-tempo and take advantage of broken play.

"I haven't played Jeff's style much but it's going to be exciting for the players and the fans.

"I think it gives us an advantage in the Tall Blacks because we're aware of how another system works and how to counter it."

Jones' personal forte is the long-range shot. Confidence is the secret, he says.

"As soon as you start to think about the shot it's bad. People think it's all in the technique but everyone shoots differently. I'm best when I just catch and shoot.

"If I'm open and sometimes when I'm not, I still just want to have a go. Quick catch and release is the thing for me."

He's impressed by those around him. "Kirk [Penney] is one of the best shooters I've seen. And Aaron Olsen has a nice, relaxed style. Paora Winitana is shooting well."

They're all pushing for Tall Black guard spots - so he notices.

"I haven't been involved in a camp where the shooting all-round has been so good," Jones said.

His will need to be good, too, the Czechs being bigger. As will be the Europeans they play in Istanbul in the build-up to Olympic qualifying, the Australians in September and everyone at Athens next year.

Inside Track:

Name: Phill Jones.

Height: 1.96m.

Weight: 95kg.

Born: January 25, 1974, Christchurch.

Grew up in Reefton.

Educated: Inangahua College then Nelson College.

West Coast 3rd division age 14-16.

NZ schoolboys MVP, 1992.

Senior career:

Nelson Giants 1993-1998.

Kouvlot, Finland 1998-99 (won title) and 2000-2001.

Lonkos, Greece 2002.

Oregon Scientific Cantu, Italy, 2003.

Tall Black since 1994, including 2000 Olympics and 2002 world championships.