Basketball: American pair keen to help Nuggets

Antoine Tisby has a new perspective on life and Tyler Amaya has a new home.

Both Americans intend to use their fresh directions as motivation to help the Otago Nuggets stand tall in their comeback season.

The pair arrived in Dunedin this week to prepare for next weekend's opening tip-off.

For Tisby, it is a homecoming.

He starred for the Nuggets when they last appeared in the NBL, averaging 24 points a game at centre and claiming the league rebounding title with nearly 11 boards a night.

He said he was delighted to get a chance to return to the franchise and to see how the Baby Nuggets, his young team-mates, had developed.

"Last time was a great experience for me," Tisby said yesterday.

"I saw a lot of young guys; a lot of potential talent.

Now they've grown up a little bit, so I'm anxious to see what we can do this year.

"I enjoy being a team leader.

But I want to help other guys at the same time."

Tisby (26) has played in Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and Lebanon in the 18 months since he left Dunedin, but more importantly he has started a family.

"I've had a couple of big life changes.

I got married and had a daughter."

Little Azaria, who turned 1 month old yesterday, has stayed in Kansas City with Tisby's wife.

It may be about four months before Tisby sees his family again - regular conversations over Skype will have to suffice until then - but the itinerant basketballer knows he has to stay strong for everyone's sake.

"It's a tough lifestyle but you've got to make these sacrifices sometimes.

"Becoming a father has changed my perspective on everything, really.

I'm more mature, and I've got to be more of a leader on the court.

"It's my job to lead my team-mates the same way I would lead my family."

For 27-year-old Amaya, Dunedin is the latest stop on a similarly varied basketball journey that has seen him play in Germany, China and Holland since leaving Western Washington University.

Amaya played for Don Sims, who coached the Nuggets in 2008, in Seattle recently, and jumped at the chance to come to Otago.

"This is definitely the most exciting opportunity I've had," Amaya said.

"Other places were cool but I've always wanted to come down to New Zealand to check the place out."

Amaya hails from Mt Vernon, nestled beside the Cascade mountain range in Washington, and played semi-professional hoops in nearby Bellingham.

He won the International Basketball League with the Bellingham Slam in 2008, and averaged 23.6 points and 11 rebounds for the team last year.

Standing about 2m, Amaya is used to the forward line but he also has the ability to drop back to a ball-handling position.

"I like to do a little bit of everything.

I like to pass, I like to shoot, I like to drive, I like to rebound.

"I just love the game.

I won't say I'm great at anything but I try to be good at a lot of different aspects."

Amaya also enjoys a bit of show time.

A popular YouTube clip shows him playing in an exhibition game against his alma mater, spinning and driving to the hoop, claiming a rebound and landing an over-the-shoulder shot while sitting on the floor.

Mt Vernon has a powerful hoops culture and Amaya won an undefeated high school state championship his senior year.

"I don't know much about the New Zealand league, or what the other teams are like.

"But I have a winning attitude and I will never accept losing. I'm just excited to get in the gym with these guys."

Amaya has also left family behind.

His girlfriend, Veronica, is a police officer in Bellingham.