The Tall Blacks have left themselves relying on other results to progress to the knock-out rounds of the Basketball World Cup in Spain.

New Zealand has a new set of sporting brothers playing together internationally. The All Blacks have the Franks brothers and the Black Caps, the McCullums.

Two-time ANBL championship winner Cedric Jackson is excited to be back with the Breakers and looking forward to reuniting with his old teammates this season.

Their nickname is a misnomer, as the Tall Blacks will again play small ball at an international tournament.

The Tall Blacks have been rocked by a stomach virus that has floored five players and three staff members, including coaches Nenad Vucinic and Pero Cameron, on the eve of their game against Slovenia in Lithuania.

The Tall Blacks have successfully wrapped up the China leg of their World Cup preparation tour, but the team are confronting a new reality - life without Alex Pledger.

Southland Sharks basketball player, Leon Henry, is thanking a New Plymouth District court judge for saving his career.

Watching Steven Adams interact with some of New Zealand's top young athletes in Auckland yesterday, the esteem the Kiwi NBA star is held in by the group was evident.

In his journey from teenage tearaway to NBA star, Steven Adams has accumulated a lot of wisdom for a guy just 21 years old.

Steven Adams has taken a break from his off-season training with his NBA side the Oklahoma City Thunder to help mentor some of New Zealand's top young athletes.

Cedric Jackson will return to the Breakers next season from a dismal jaunt overseas, but maintains the NBA is "still the ultimate goal".

The Tall Blacks will leave New Zealand to continue their preparation for next month’s World Cup with a winning feeling.

Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic will again have to juggle injury concerns before tonight's third test against Korea on the North Shore.