Basketball: Sore throat but Stone rolling on

By PETER JESSUP

Kenny Stone cannot talk, at least not properly, but he is happy to wave enthusiastically then write at length about his call-up for the Tall Blacks' squad to play Hungary in a five-test series.

He got an elbow to the throat in practice a month ago and his voicebox collapsed, with the healing time undetermined.

It has been frustrating for the Auckland player-coach because he cannot react verbally when he wants to, and when he does say something he has to gather all the team around and croak it out.

"It's been a positive thing for the team because it requires them all to talk more, which is always a problem with a young team," he said.

Stone won three league championships with Auckland and, reinvigorated in his new role, wants to learn how then-Auckland coach and now New Zealand boss Tab Baldwin did that.

The naturalised American had some trouble gaining a release from his employer, the National Bank, when Baldwin wanted him for a team camp, then the tour to China last month, but they have relented and he will be in camp with the squad from next week as Baldwin works them towards the world championships in August.

This season is something of a revelation for Stone, who quit the game three years ago after a run of debilitating knee injuries. Today he leads the Auckland Stars against defending national league champions Waikato at Unitec at 2.15pm.

At age 36, he's playing close to the best game of his career, the on-and-off-court leadership role a new motivation for him.

"When I retired I didn't have the desire or motivation to play. I was not enjoying myself and my priorities had changed - I wanted to spend time with my two kids. They're older now. My motivation and desire came back and I wanted to help Auckland."

Baldwin, one of a syndicate that took over the Auckland franchise this year, approached Stone to coach at the same time Stone was about to ask if he could play.

"I want to continue the success the Auckland basketball team has enjoyed since Tab took over.

"Getting to the level he achieved is a long-term goal. I need to develop my coaching skills and spend more time with individuals, which I haven't been able to do this year because of a late start to the pre-season. There is a lot of natural athleticism in the team and my role is to develop that into a cohesive unit. I'm still learning to do that."

Former Stars' guard Adrian Boyd, his assistant, has been a big help, bringing specialised knowledge of the guard role and running the bench during games.

He expects Tall Blacks' captain Pero Cameron to play at least some time for the visitors, who have not been travelling well, despite the calf injury that he's been carrying. "Whenever he is on the floor he commands attention and provides leadership, whether he scores or not."

The Titans have signed highly regarded United States import and former NBL star DeWayne McCray as a fill-in for Cameron.

Stone knows most of the Titans, Riki Strother, Prem Krishna, Dillon Boucher and Cameron all being former team-mates.

"I think we know some of their strengths and weaknesses but their games have changed in a different system at Waikato. They have an insight into our personnel, so that probably cancels out."

Baldwin rates Stone as being in better form than he was for the past two years he played before his break, but not yet to the peak he hit mid-90s.

Stone is in a four-way tussle with Ed Book from the Palmerston Jets, Terrence Lewis from the Canterbury Rams and Willie Burton of the Hawkes Bay Hawks for one starting spot allowed a naturalised player at the world championships in Indianapolis.