Website of the YearHundreds of Rotorua basketball players and fans are looking forward to the Tall Blacks playing Hong Kong here next month.
What would make them even more excited is if their hero Steve Adams was there.
Rotorua's most famous basketball export is in his off-season after the Oklahoma City Thunder were knocked out of the NBA finals and local fans are calling for him to return home next month.
Nearly 1900 Rotorua Basketball members, more than 1700 of who are youth basketballers, are hoping to entice Adams home by running the #comehomesteven social media campaign through their Facebook page.
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Advertise with NZME.The Rotorua Basketball Association, in conjunction with schools, are planning a series of videos that will include its members of all ages shouting "come home Steve" and are hoping they will go viral and attract his attention.
The public can get involved by sharing photos of their own basketball skills, tagging the Rotorua Basketball Facebook page and including the #comehomesteven hashtag in their posts.
Rotorua Basketball Association development co-ordinator Sue Pene said having such high-level games played in Rotorua was inspiring for young players, with a number of them motivated by what Adams had achieved.
"It would be a great opportunity to watch their basketball idols in action and to have Steve there would mean the world to them."
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) game between the Tall Blacks and Hong Kong will be played at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre on Thursday, June 28. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.co.nz
Adams has not yet confirmed whether he will be in New Zealand when the game takes place.