Basketball New Zealand is confident Steven Adams will be available for the Tall Blacks' Olympic qualifying games against Australia after the big man's NBA team were eliminated from playoff contention.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were yesterday pipped to the crucial eighth place finish, bringing Adams' season to an early end.
Basketball New Zealand chief executive Iain Potter said he was waiting to hear from the Thunder about what their offseason plans were for Adams.
The Tall Blacks will be hoping they have Oklahoma City's Steven Adams on board for the Rio Olympics. Photo: Photosport
"I am more optimistic than I was last year. OKC have been clear it's a different year and the circumstances are different now," said Potter.
"We've got good reason to believe there's less of a barrier there and it comes down to how he is in terms of the injury he had to his hand and his fitness and the off season programme he has along with his own committment to sponsors and commerical things."
The Tall Blacks play Australia in August, with the winner gaining automatic entry into next year's Rio Olympics and Potter said that would be a lure for Adams.
"The Olympics are only a once every four year opportunity and I think it's a very attractive proposition for Steven - well I hope it is and from what I understand from what he's said publicly is that he does see the Olympics as a really attractive proposition," said Potter.
