Pero Cameron
Encyclopedia
Sean Pero MacPherson Cameron MNZM, known as "Pero", (born 5 June 1974 in Tokoroa
) is a former New Zealand
professional basketball
player. Cameron captained the NZ National Team from 2000 - 2010. He is currently the Head Coach of the Wellington Exodus Saints in the NZNBL and the Assistant Coach for the Gold Coast Blaze in the ANBL.
Cameron has won 11 championships, (the most in New Zealand NBL History, nine as a player, two as a coach) and made the league's first team seven times, won the MVP award five times and Coach Of The Year in his first year as Head Coach of the Wellington Saints.
NBL Titles- New Zealand (11) 1995 (Auckland), 1996 (Auckland), 1997 (Auckland), 1999 (Auckland), 2000 (Auckland), 2001 (Waikato), 2002 (Waikato), 2008 (Waikato), 2009 (Waikato) 2010 (Wellington), 2011 (Wellington).
NBL Awards - New Zealand,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, Coach Of The Year 2010.
Malaysia for the IPOH Red Eagles, 1995–1996,
Cheshire Jets in the British Basketball League from 1999–2003, winning all 4 major trophies in the 2001/2002 season.
New Zealand Breakers 2003-2005.
Banvitspor Turkey 2005-2007.
Mahram, Tehran, Iran 2007.
Gold Coast Blaze, Australia 2007-2010
Arguably his most memorable moment as Captain of the NZ Team came in 2002 when the national team stunned the basketball world by making the semi finals of the World Championships eventually losing to Germany for 4th place.
Cameron averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the tournament, and became the only non-NBA player to make the all-tournament team.
He was joined on this team by established NBA superstars Dirk Nowitzki
and Peja Stojakovic
and NBA rookies-to-be Yao Ming
and Emanuel Ginobili
.
He has played in 2 Olympic Games: Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and 3 World Championships: 2002, 2006, 2010.
His Mother, Mata, is an ex New Zealand representative and current coach of New Zealand age groups.
Sister, Jody is a former NZ Tall Fern, and represented NZ at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004.
Brother, Raymond is a former NZ Junior and current member of the Waikato Pistons Basketball team in the NZNBL.
Sisters, Jeannie and Zeta are also former New Zealand Basketball Junior representatives.
Tokoroa
Tokoroa is the third-largest town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand and largest settlement in the South Waikato district. Located 30 km southwest of Rotorua, close to the foot of the Mamaku Ranges, it is mid-way between Taupo and Hamilton on State Highway One...
) is a former New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Cameron captained the NZ National Team from 2000 - 2010. He is currently the Head Coach of the Wellington Exodus Saints in the NZNBL and the Assistant Coach for the Gold Coast Blaze in the ANBL.
New Zealand NBL
In 1992, he began playing in New Zealand's National Basketball League for the Waikato Warriors.Cameron has won 11 championships, (the most in New Zealand NBL History, nine as a player, two as a coach) and made the league's first team seven times, won the MVP award five times and Coach Of The Year in his first year as Head Coach of the Wellington Saints.
NBL Titles- New Zealand (11) 1995 (Auckland), 1996 (Auckland), 1997 (Auckland), 1999 (Auckland), 2000 (Auckland), 2001 (Waikato), 2002 (Waikato), 2008 (Waikato), 2009 (Waikato) 2010 (Wellington), 2011 (Wellington).
NBL Awards - New Zealand,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, Coach Of The Year 2010.
International career
Pero has played professionally in:Malaysia for the IPOH Red Eagles, 1995–1996,
Cheshire Jets in the British Basketball League from 1999–2003, winning all 4 major trophies in the 2001/2002 season.
New Zealand Breakers 2003-2005.
Banvitspor Turkey 2005-2007.
Mahram, Tehran, Iran 2007.
Gold Coast Blaze, Australia 2007-2010
NZ national team
Cameron was first selected for the Tall Blacks in 1992. In 2000, for the Sydney Olympics he became co-captain of the side, and was elevated to sole captain the following year.Arguably his most memorable moment as Captain of the NZ Team came in 2002 when the national team stunned the basketball world by making the semi finals of the World Championships eventually losing to Germany for 4th place.
Cameron averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the tournament, and became the only non-NBA player to make the all-tournament team.
He was joined on this team by established NBA superstars Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a German professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association...
and Peja Stojakovic
Peja Stojaković
Predrag Stojaković , also known by his nickname Peja , is a Serbian professional basketball player who last played for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association . Standing at 6 ft 10 , Stojaković plays the small forward position...
and NBA rookies-to-be Yao Ming
Yao Ming
Yao Ming is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association...
and Emanuel Ginobili
Manu Ginobili
Emanuel David "Manu" Ginóbili is an Argentine professional basketball player. Coming from a family of professional basketball players, he is a member of the Argentine men's national basketball team and the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association .Ginóbili spent the early part of...
.
He has played in 2 Olympic Games: Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and 3 World Championships: 2002, 2006, 2010.
Family
Pero is married and has 3 children.His Mother, Mata, is an ex New Zealand representative and current coach of New Zealand age groups.
Sister, Jody is a former NZ Tall Fern, and represented NZ at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004.
Brother, Raymond is a former NZ Junior and current member of the Waikato Pistons Basketball team in the NZNBL.
Sisters, Jeannie and Zeta are also former New Zealand Basketball Junior representatives.
Honours
- Commonwealth Games Silver Medal - 2006
- Sparc Leadership Award - 2003
- World Championship Tournament Team - 2002
- Maori Sportsman of the Year - 2002
- Member of the New Zealand Order of MeritNew Zealand Order of MeritThe New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, for services to basketball - 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours.