HoopsHype.com Rumors

New Zealand Breakers jumping jack Tom Abercrombie has the NBA summer leagues lined up in August if the Tall Blacks do not make the London Olympics. Abercrombie, 24, was in Christchurch yesterday for a fundraising lunch and last night spoke at the Mid-Canterbury sportsman of the year awards in Ashburton. He will look to pursue his NBA dream this northern summer showcasing his skills in the American summer leagues where players can get picked up by clubs for a shot at the big time. TVNZ

Summer League, New Zealand, Tom Abercrombie 

New Zealand's most successful basketball export Sean Marks has announced the end of his playing career after eleven seasons and 230 games in the NBA. The 36-year-old was the first Kiwi to play in the American competition, considered the sport's toughest league, and it included stints for six different teams and a title with the San Antonia Spurs in 2005. Stuff.co.nz

San Antonio Spurs, New Zealand, Sean Marks 

The NBL champion New Zealand Breakers have filled their second and final import slot for the 2011/12 season, signing NBA-experienced Cedric Jackson to join fellow American Gary Wilkinson at the club. sportal.co.nz

Lockout, New Zealand, Cedric Jackson 

New Zealand Breakers signed for the coming season Cedric Jackson. The product of Cleveland State finished last season with Enel Brindisi, in Italian Serie A, averaging 10ppg, 5rpg and 3apg in 2 games. Jackson, guard, started last year in NBDL with Erie BayHawks averaging 12.1ppg, 4.1rpg, 6.6apg, 2.1spg and then moved to Idaho Stampede recording averages of 13.6ppg, 6.1rpg,, 7.5apg e 2.1spg. Sportando

Lockout, New Zealand, Cedric Jackson 

Dwight Howard, in town as part of a promotional tour and scheduled to address the prospects on Monday, made a surprise appearance Sunday to join New Zealand’s junior national rugby team, in town for a tournament, to do the Haka at midcourt. A pre-game Haka, a traditional dance from the country, is a great moment no matter what. The Magic’s gregarious center in the spirit and putting full-throated energy into the Haka is even better. NBA.com

Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard, New Zealand 

Tall Blacks guard Kirk Penney will return to the NZ Breakers after being cut from the San Antonio Spurs NBA training camp. Kirk Penney's latest shot at the NBA is over. The Breakers have confirmed the Tall Blacks point guard has been cut from training camp at the San Antonio Spurs. Penney only played one pre season match, coming off the bench to score nine points. Newstalk ZB

San Antonio Spurs, New Zealand, Kirk Penney 

Kirk Penney could be back to Maccabi Tel Aviv. The 29-year-old guard, the best scorer of the New Zealander national team in the last World Championship (24,7 points and 2.0 assists per game), is in talks to go back to the Israeli team, where he already played during the 2005-06 season. thehoopsmarket.com

New Zealand, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Kirk Penney 

The Christchurch-based father of NBA star Kendrick Perkins says his son will never play for the Tall Blacks. New Zealand men's basketball assistant coach Dillon Boucher said this week that the Boston Celtics centre was viewed as a prospective Tall Black if he met Fiba eligibility criteria. But his father Kenny Perkins was adamant the 25-year-old would turn down any advances. "He has no intention of playing for the Tall Blacks – not now or ever," Kenny Perkins told the Waikato Times. "They tried this a long time ago when Tab Baldwin was the coach and I would never let him play for Tab Baldwin. "His main goal is to play for the United States." Stuff.co.nz

Boston Celtics centre Kendrick Perkins is a long-term project to play for the Tall Blacks. New Zealand assistant coach Dillon Boucher said the NBA star was on their radar as a prospective member of the national squad, although not for the upcoming world championships in Turkey. Perkins' estranged father Kenny Perkins lives in Christchurch and was a veteran of the New Zealand National Basketball League in the 1980s and 90s. "I believe some contact has been made with his father," Boucher told the Waikato Times. "He's out for about six months now with an injury but we'll probably go down that avenue in the next year or so. "We don't know what his eligibility will be in terms of being able to play for us but it's definitely something worth pursuing. "It would be awesome to have him playing for the Tall Blacks." Stuff.co.nz