Basketball New Zealand

Pero Cameron (Photosport)

New Zealand’s most high-profile player, Pero Cameron, has signed a three-year deal to coach the Century City Wellington Saints in the NBL.

“I’m extremely grateful to the Century City Saints for giving me the opportunity to kick start my coaching career,” said Cameron.

“The Saints run a very good programme and I didn’t have to think twice about the opportunity presented to me. I want to be a successful coach and I see the environment at the Saints and the calibre of players we are chasing as the perfect place to start my coaching career.”

For the Saints, the decision to appoint Pero Cameron was a clear cut one. Cameron’s distinguished playing career, his mana in the game and the fact he has won nine NBL titles points to him making a seamless and successful transition into coaching.

“We wanted a New Zealand coach after recent unsuccessful years using overseas coaches,” said Saints general manager Shaun Gill. “In terms of leaders in the game, no one comes close to Pero.

“I believe he’s going to be a great Saints coach and will lead the Tall Blacks in the future.”

Pero Cameron

Teams: Waikato Pistons & Gold Coast Blaze (Australia)
Position: Forward
Born: June 5, 1974 in Tokoroa
Height: 1.98m
Tall Black captain.
Cameron has been a backbone of the Tall Blacks since debuting in 1994 and was instrumental in their semifinal finish at the 2002 world championships,
The pinnacle of Pero’s career was being selected in the All Star Five at the 2002 World Championships with NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobli, Yao Ming and Peja Stojakovic. This accolade came on the back of leading the Tall Blacks to fourth place and also saw NBA offers come in from the Detroit Pistons and the Memphis Grizzlies.
He subsequently won the SPARC Leadership Award at the 2003 Halberg Awards and was also in outstanding form while guiding the team to silver medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Cameron won a record ninth NBL title with Waikato Pistons in 2009. Individually, he has five Kiwi MVP awards and has been selected to seven All-Star Fives.
He has played professionally in Malaysia, England, Turkey, Iran and Australia, turning out for the Gold Coast Blaze over the last three seasons.

NBL Titles (9)
1995 (Auckland), 1996 (Auckland), 1997 (Auckland), 1999 (Auckland), 2000 (Auckland), 2001 (Waikato), 2002 (Waikato), 2008 (Waikato), 2009 (Waikato)

NBL Awards
Rookie of the Year – 1992
Rebound Champion – 1993
Outstanding Forward – 1998
Kiwi MVP – 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999
Outstanding NZ Forward – 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
All-Star Five – 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001