Lately I have been playing close attention to what's going on with the USA national team as they gear up for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Thanks to Rajon Rondo's decision to finally try out for the team I now have a raised interest in what's going on.

Rondo has been in Vegas for the past two days practicing with the squad in hopes to get one of the 12 roster spots available. He's currently competing with the likes of Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Lamar Odom, and Chauncey Billups.

Moving on to the point of this post... as I was making my way around the internet looking for Celtics related stories tonight I came upon an interesting story about Celtics center Kendrick Perkins.

According to Stuff, a New Zealand based news source, Perkins is being targeted by the New Zealand national team, also known as the "Tall Blacks". An assistant coach for the New Zealand national team relayed the information that they have Perkins on their radar.

You may be asking how Perkins might be able to play for the country of New Zealand.

Via Stuff:

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."

 

(I don't know if I can picture Perk doing this, though)

I'm 100% sure that Perkins would rather suit up for team USA, but if the opportunity arises and he gets a shot to play Olympic basketball you never know. With Perk recovering from an injury the chances he will play in the 2010 FIBA World Championships are very slim, actually there's a 0% chance.

If he is eligible, and want's to play for the "Tall Blacks", the possibility that he plays global ball sometime in the future is pretty high. From a fans persepective I'm all for it. It would allow him to improve his game and play against tough competition from around the world.