Basketball: Legend plays double hand

Pero Cameron. Photo / Getty Images

Pero Cameron is almost caught between two lives - a player facing international retirement if he can't get back in the Tall Blacks after injury; and a coach making a good fist of a new role.

Cameron is in his rookie coaching season at the Wellington Saints in the National Basketball League (NBL), with the Saints third on the ladder ahead of a vital clash with the Waikato Pistons next weekend.

The Tall Black legend is also battling two frustrating injuries that may force him to retire from international basketball if he is not fit enough to front up in June to seal a playing spot in the squad heading to the world championships in Turkey.

The Tall Blacks will assemble after the NBL competition with head coach Nenad Vucinic likely to put a potential pool of players through a vigorous conditioning and skills camp, before choosing a squad.

Cameron took little part in this season's Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) after injuring his right knee playing for the Gold Coast. The problem for Cameron is the knee injury has led to an injured left foot.

Cameron has bone density problems with his foot - hardly surprising considering the amount of punishment his body has taken in 18 years as a professional basketball player.

"The operation on my knee was successful and my club did a great job getting me back into a reconditioning programme," said Cameron.

"But the problem was I was offloading weight from my right knee onto my left foot and that has put me behind where I'd like to be in terms of my Saints duties and Tall Black aspirations for the World Champs in Turkey.

"The injuries are just part of sport so I have to front up in June for a crack at the Tall Black squad and prove myself."

A trip to the World Championships in Turkey would be a fitting final Tall Black tour for Cameron before his retirement.

At the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis, Cameron took centre stage - making the all-tournament team alongside NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojakovic, Yao Ming and Emanuel Ginobili.

Cameron is adamant he is fully focused on his coaching job with the Saints in 2010 and Tall Black talk is quickly dispatched as a minor issue.

The Saints have a record of 9-4 from 13 games so far this season. Cameron is happy with their recent form but knows better than most how the intensity level and passion of teams change at playoff time.

"Saints have given me this wonderful opportunity to kick off my coaching career and that is the only thing I'm focusing on right now. I'm really enjoying the challenge of coaching and it's a challenge that is changing every week.

"I have to find ways to explain and show the team different ways to execute and perform. Everybody learns differently to others and as a coach it's my responsibility to recognise this and work on my communication skills."

With a stunning point guard-shooting guard combination of Lindsay Tait and sharp-shooting American guard Eric Devendorf, the Saints often destroy teams with furious shooting displays. Nick Horvath, Casey Frank, Leon Henry and Erron Maxey are certainly giving opponents plenty of problems getting rebounds.

Cameron is looking forward to Saturday's game between the Saints and his former club, the Waikato Pistons, in Wellington.

"I was born in Tokoroa but make no mistakes, the loyalty will be out the door, when we get out on the court next weekend," said Cameron.

"It's gonna be all-out war and we have an interesting run of six games heading into the playoffs.

"We're in a position where we can focus on knuckling down over these next six games and securing a top two finish and a home semifinal spot.

"As a player and now a coach, it's the most exciting period of the season."

Meanwhile, the Pistons have made another import change, replacing injured point guard Carl Krauser with Adelaide-based American Rashad Tucker.

The Pistons - attempting a hat-trick of wins - earlier this season fired original American import Eric Devendorf, replacing him with Krauser. Devendorf was quickly signed by the Wellington Saints and has been a revelation for the Cameron-trained team.

Pistons head coach Dean Vickerman felt that Devendorf was more of a scoring point guard as opposed to a true on-court leader.

Krauser has been a good on-court general for the Pistons since his arrival from New York but has been troubled by a right ankle injury sustained in his first training run with his new team.