Basketball: Miffed Cameron still hopeful of playing for Breakers

Pero Cameron (with ball) in practice with the Breakers. Herald file picture

Pero Cameron feels he was not given enough court time at the New Zealand Breakers.

Cameron split with the Auckland-based Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) franchise last week and was involved in a war of words through the media with departed Breakers general manager Peter Chapman at the weekend.

The 1.98m power forward averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in two seasons with the Breakers.

"I didn't get a chance to play," Cameron said yesterday.

"I probably averaged half a game, if that, all season. You fall out of favour, you know, but I think the most I played was 30 minutes.

"(If) They wanted me to be the franchise player, then give me the chance to be the franchise player."

Cameron averaged 25min 7sec in 30 games last season, just over half a regulation 48-minute ANBL game. He played a season-high 40min 10sec and only seven other times over 30min.

His Waikato Titans coach Tim McTamney supported Cameron, comparing his per minute production with other leading forwards in the league.

"If you extend his minutes out to the type of minutes others were getting, he's actually more productive than the likes of Tony Ronaldson (Perth Wildcats) and Ben Knight (Sydney Kings), who are both Boomers.

He had more points and rebounds per minute than Ronaldson but Knight had more rebounds. Their shooting percentages were similar.

"It's hard to compare numbers when one guy's only getting half the minutes. To go on about Pero's numbers not being up to scratch is ridiculous. Then there're the other things he brings to the game."

The Titans captain came off contract with the Breakers last month. He was reportedly paid $190,000 per year but with new coach Andrej Lemanis not seeing him as a starter next season, the Breakers were not willing to offer him the same money.

Cameron's agent reportedly asked the Breakers if a bench spot would pay $120,000 and was told no. Cameron has still not been officially told he is no longer wanted.

Cameron declined to respond directly to comments made by a scathing Chapman.

"I'm over it. Of course it hurt, but so what? It's professional, it's business. I vented some things that I thought the club could improve on. They've made some changes, the new coach has come in and he sees fit to do what he thinks will be successful.

"There're some things there that I felt the guy was a little bit personal on and there were some untruths."

The Tall Black would not detail any overseas offers but said he was talking to clubs in Australia and Europe. He would not confirm or deny an offer from the Wollongong Hawks.

"There're always opportunities. If you're any good there will always be opportunities. Whether they're good or not doesn't really matter."

Cameron said he was open to returning to the Breakers.

"I certainly haven't shut the door. I don't know if my actions have shut the door. With the communication the way it is, I don't know. If given the opportunity, of course."

- NZPA