Basketball: Cameron high on Baldwin wish list

Tab Baldwin

New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin wants to take Tall Blacks captain Pero Cameron with him when he returns full time to Turkish club basketball.

Baldwin, who returned this week from half a season coaching Turkish club Banvitspor, vented his displeasure at the recent criticism of Cameron by departed New Zealand Breakers general manager Peter Chapman.

Chapman and Cameron were involved in an ugly verbal spat in which Chapman called the veteran forward an "over-paid lazy sack of potatoes" and a bully.

Cameron described Chapman as a dictator.

"It's unfortunate when a guy who means as much to New Zealand basketball as Pero Cameron does is cast in a light by a guy that I would say didn't have any credibility with me," Baldwin said.

Baldwin has signed a one-year contract with Banvitspor, the team he lifted from last place to 10th in the strong 14-team Turkish league.

He will rejoin the club in late August, almost as soon as New Zealand's three-test world championship qualifying series against Australia ends.

A clause in his nine-month contract will allow him to join the New Zealand team for their Melbourne Commonwealth Games campaign in March.

Baldwin disputed suggestions his Turkish role would impact on his duties with the Tall Blacks.

"I'll be a better basketball coach and I'll certainly be a lot more exposed to European basketball, which won't be a big factor at the Commonwealth Games but will certainly be a big factor at the world champs in 2006 in Japan," he said.

"The league is one of the strongest in Europe.

"I'm refreshed, in a sense. I was so happy to be coaching again, but it was a tough assignment because the team were in such bad shape when I got there."

Baldwin helped Banvitspor avoid relegation in their first season in the first division and they went close to reaching the top-eight playoffs.

He will now play a key role in recruitment. He was interested in hiring a couple of New Zealand players, but Cameron was the only player he had approached.

"We did bring Pero over to have a look at our situation.

"I wanted him to meet management people and I think both sides were very impressed."

Negotiations were continuing between Cameron's agents and Banvitspor management.

- NZPA