Channelling Steven Adams' success on the court will be the aim for brother Moses Beckham at the National Maori Basketball Tournament.
Beckham, Adams' older sibling by 13 years, is the head coach for the under-15 Te Arawa girls' side at the annual tournament starting in Rotorua tomorrow and running until Saturday.
In his third year as coach, Beckham will look to emulate the same winning success he experienced in 2015 with the under-15 team.
Beckham, 36, said despite being "extremely competitive" growing up with his now NBA star brother he would be taking some of Adams' "words of wisdom" ahead of the tournament.
"Back in the early 90s I could push him [Adams] around on the court then because he was so much smaller. But we grew up in a very competitive family - you didn't want to lose no matter how old or little you were," Beckham said.
"I think that maybe came from the British side with my dad [Sid Adams]. Our family has always been ballers, it's in our blood. Steven was the youngest out of us so he was the last on the scene.
"Now when I talk with Steven it's always banter even with advice - that's just how we roll. We always get smart with each other that's how it's always been between the siblings."
Rotorua's centre Steven Adams in action for his side Oklahoma City Thunder. PHOTO/ FILE
Beckham said he had also been aided by the NBA star's former mentor, Wellington-based Kiwi hoops legend Kenny McFadden.
"I always pick his [Adams] brain about basketball. This is a tournament that I give him a heads up about. He has interest with the Rotorua teams and a couple of Wellington teams are coming up and he's dealt with the coaches and teams personally.
"I'm working alongside Kenny too with my coaching and I aim to bring that knowledge and teaching with me into this team."
It will be a family affair for the Beckhams during the tournament with 14-year-old daughter Jada competing in her dad's team.
Jada Beckham, 14, (left) pictured in a Steven Adams' basketball jersey, with dad and Adams' older brother Moses Beckham, the coach of Te Arawa under-15 girl's side. PHOTO/ STPEHEN PARKER
The Rotorua Girls' High School student started playing when she was 6 and has been selected for New Zealand and Rotorua under-17 squads.
Jada said she was feeling confident and would take inspiration from her famous uncle when she took to the court in the shooting guard position.
"I'm feeling confident and I'm ready to challenge," she said. "Basketball is in our family and it's a sport I've always loved along with waka ama. I want to go as far as I can with this and performing in this tournament is really important."
Beckham added: "I'm pretty confident because a lot of them play other sports like waka ama and touch so I'm hoping fitness won't be the problem. There will be three days of intense competition so each player needs to push themselves."
This year's National Maori Basketball Tournament has attracted a record 165 team entries with 13 representing Te Arawa with games being split between the Energy Events Centre and Rotorua Girls' High School in Rotorua.
Tournament director Sue Pene said Te Arawa had a good chance of retaining the award for best performing rohe (region) with points added up for finishing first, second and third in each division.
"Every year we see more entries but this is huge," Pene said. "It's a hugely successful competition and for the first year we are seeing some teams entered from the South Island. It's going to be tough for Te Arawa with the competition but we certainly have a chance."
