NZL – Jones calls it a day with New Zealand

WELLINGTON (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - The New Zealand Tall Blacks were already facing a mountain to climb to reach the Beijing Games and that task became even harder this week when veteran shooting guard Phill Jones announced his international retirement.

Jones, who played at the last Olympics and was a huge part of the Tall Blacks team that reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis, is 34 years old and believes the time is right for him to leave the national team set-up.

“This has been such a huge part of my life, but it is time to settle down and stay at home with the family,” Jones said.

“We’ll be moving up to Auckland soon for the Breakers and that’s a really big move. If I was away, my wife would be making that move by herself … it’s something she’s had to do for such a long time.

“If it was me, I’d be saying it was time I settled down and spent some time with the kids. I think I’m playing reasonably well and can still compete at that level, but as far as motivation goes, family is now definitely first.”

Jones is a gifted scorer who has a sweet, trademark left-handed jump shot that has caused a lot of problems for Tall Blacks opponents.

In Indianapolis, he averaged more than 18 points per game.

“There is now an opportunity for some younger guys to step up and show what they’re capable of,” Jones said.

“Even if they can’t compete at this tournament, they will still get to see what level they need to be at … it’ll be good for them.”

New Zealand are in Group B of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens with Germany and Cape Verde. If they finish in the top two, they will advance to a quarter-final against hosts Greece, South American giants Brazil or FIBA Asia Championship silver medalists Lebanon in the a quarter-final.

Nenad Vucinic, the Tall Blacks coach, said: “It makes me sad, but I totally understand Phill’s reasons and respect his decision. It must have been a tough decision after all those years.”

Vucinic is expected to this week announce his preliminary squad for Athens.

FIBA