Basketball New Zealand

Terrence Lewis (Photosport)

Former Tall Black and NBL legend Terrence Lewis has entered the Basketball New Zealand national teams programme as a coach, appointed as assistant with the NZ U16 Men.

Lewis (40), who came to New Zealand in 1993 as an American import for Wellington Saints, last appeared in the league two years ago, averaging more than 20 points a game over 260 NBL appearances.

In 2002, he was selected for the Tall Blacks and was in contention for the one restricted spot available on the team for the FIBA World Championship for Men in Indianapolis.

But Lewis has now begun putting his experience to good use on the sidelines, cutting his teeth at representative level as coach of his son’s Wellington U15 and U17 teams.

“I’d like the chance to help kids by giving them the knowledge I have gathered in the sport of basketball,” he says. “One day, I’d like to coach at the top level, coaching either a national or professional team … but you have got to crawl before you can walk.

“The transition from playing to coaching is very difficult. As a player, you don’t have much to worry about except playing.

“As a coach, you have to worry about getting players the right amount of time on and off the court, dealing with referees and dealing with different egos on the team.”

Lewis will assist head coach Seth Weakley with the U16 team to contest the Australian state championships in Brisbane, July 3-10.

Otago’s Blake Moore will fill the apprentice coach position with that same team, while North Canterbury’s Sarah Dakers has been appointed apprentice with the NZ U16 Women.