KEY POINTS:
As far as ringing endorsements go, outgoing Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin's nod to former assistant Nenad Vucinic was straight out of the top drawer. Having guided New Zealand basketball to an unprecedented six-year period of success on the world stage, Baldwin chose his farewell speech to nominate
his No 2 for an immediate promotion.
"Nenad's been more than just an assistant coach to me," Baldwin said shortly after the Tall Blacks' exit from last year's world championships in Japan.
"Many times he has felt more like a co-coach and, if it hasn't been more obvious, it is only because he is tremendously loyal to me and the Tall Blacks. A lot of credit for the performances over the past few years must go to him."
It's an assessment Vucinic agrees with.
"I wasn't just somebody who would pass [Tab] the white board," he says after overseeing a fitness session at the Tall Blacks' three-week trial camp in Hawkes Bay.
"He included me in the decision-making, he always listened to what I had to say. Obviously his word was the last one if we disagreed on something."
The buck stopped with Baldwin, which meant he got the credit when things went right, twice being named coach of the year at the Halberg Awards.
Now Vucinic is relishing the chance to carve out his own slice of history.
Born and raised in Serbia by his Montenegran father and New Zealand mother, Vucinic spent spells in New Zealand as a child before returning to take up a basketball contract with second-division Porirua in 1989.
That stay was supposed to last six months but, instead of returning to Yugoslavia, where the clouds of war were gathering, he decided to extend his stay and head to Nelson.
He never left, carving out a successful playing and coaching career with the Giants and an international career with the Tall Blacks that began in 1992 and ended with five appearances at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
But it was as a coach that he truly excelled, guiding the Giants to 13 playoff appearances in 15 seasons, winning three championships, five coach of the year awards and notching more NBL victories than any other coach.
The similarities between Vucinic and the straight-talking, super-confident, success-demanding Baldwin extend beyond their haircuts.
Vucinic, for example, is quick to pooh-pooh his record as the winningest coach in NBL history.
"That doesn't mean much because I have been around for a while," he says.
"I just believe I can coach. It is my profession, it is what I do."
However, emerging from Baldwin's shadow won't be easy, he says.
"Those are big shoes to fill. In saying that, if I didn't think I could do as good a job as Tab did, I'd be silly to take the job or even apply for it.
"I believe I can do it. They are huge shoes to fill but I really don't lack confidence in my coaching ability."
With the Tall Blacks facing their first Olympic qualifying series since being given free passes to Sydney and Athens, Vucinic's litmus test will come quickly.
To qualify directly for Beijing, the Tall Blacks must beat the Boomers in a three-test series across the Tasman next month.
Given their record of just one win on Australian soil - 79-71 in Melbourne last year - the task could hardly be tougher.
Vucinic will need all the help he can get and is sure to use his Greece-bound former mentor as a sounding board.
"We catch up just about every day. Most of the time we talk basketball. It is good to have someone like that who you can trust not to just say things that you'd like to hear. He says what he really thinks and that is really an asset.
"Before we started coaching together we became very good friends. A lot of my development is down to him and he would be the first to admit that I helped him a lot as well."
Vucinic knows he won't enjoy the surprise factor that Baldwin's 2001 side took such spectacular advantage of in their run at the world championships in Indianapolis.
"In 2001 no one expected us to beat them. Now everybody knows that we can beat them so the pressure is up there."
With Vucinic operating on a one-year contract, the Boomers series looms as a crucial point in his career. If the Tall Blacks lose he knows his position will come under scrutiny ahead of next year's repechage tournament.
"What happens in 2008, who knows? It really depends on many things. But I definitely don't think it's make-or-break for me."
Baldwin certainly thinks Vucinic has what it takes to stick in the role.
"He knows what's required in the Tall Blacks.
"I don't think there is anyone who understands it better."
Coaching record
Nelson Giants (1995-2007)
Won: 162
Lost: 72
Winning percentage: 69.2
Titles: 1994 (player, Nelson), 1998 (player/coach, Nelson), 2007 (coach)
Coach of the Year: 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006
All-Star Five: 1990
Tall Blacks assistant: 2001-2006
