Basketball: New star dazzles in Aussie stunner

Craig Bradshaw (right) shoots over NBA star Andrew Bogut during the Tall Blacks' dazzling showing in Melbourne. Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - It's fair to say Craig Bradshaw wasn't one of New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin's go-to guys - until now.

Suddenly the 2.05m centre/forward is a key figure in the Tall Blacks' world championship plans for Japan next month after his stunning, matchwinning performance against Australia in Melbourne on Wednesday night.

It seems it was only a matter of time before the Wellingtonian, 22 and playing college basketball in the United States, showed his class on the big stage.

"I know with Craig there's a lot of ice under water right now. We're only seeing the tip. This kid could be a tremendous basketball player," Baldwin enthused after the Tall Blacks' 79-71 win over Australia, with Bradshaw scoring 25 points and taking eight rebounds.

But if it hadn't been for the international retirement of New Zealand's NBA big man Sean Marks, Baldwin may not have had the courage to test out Bradshaw, who debuted at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

With Marks gone and another giant, Ed Book, also retired, the stocks of tall timber were thin and it was a case of throwing Bradshaw in to see if he could swim against players up to 10cm taller.

"It's fun to watch Craig. He's got more talent than even he realises yet, and he's in a great environment.

"It's a steep learning curve for him. He's been here two years and in the past when it's come down to crunch times in our tougher games we've gone with other options."

Seeing Bradshaw was on a hot streak in the final test, Baldwin called the play that eventually sealed their first win in Australia, when Bradshaw hit a big three-pointer to make it 75-71 with just under two minutes left.

Just quietly, it was named "Curl".

"We'll probably have to change the name of the play now," Baldwin said.

"He said he was feeling it tonight and if you couldn't recognise that you shouldn't be coaching. We ran one to him and he knocked it down."

Bradshaw, as ice-cool off the court as on it, was buzzing at his starring role and relishing the joust with Milwaukee's NBA centre Andrew Bogut.

"Twenty-five points, a career-high for the Tall Blacks, it just feels great," he said. "I might not look like it, but I'm just exhausted right now. To win on their home court, take the Ramsay Shield home, it's great."

After playing his rookie year at the Saints in 2002, a contact in Christchurch told him Winthrop University in South Carolina was looking for a player. He jumped at the chance and after the world championship will return for his senior [fourth] year.

"I wouldn't be here if I hadn't gone to the States ... it's helped me so much. It's made me tougher, made me grow up a lot more and made me appreciate the game a whole lot more.

"This is my third year but with our shortage of big men this was my time to step up. I'm just trying to show what I've got and play as many minutes as I can at world champs."

And he had teammates marvelling. As Paul Henare said: "He was amazing ... I think he's going to be a star. He's only 22 ... if he keeps improving the way he's going, who knows where he could end up?"

- NZPA