New Zealand's Flynn Cameron hopes Summer League showing leads to NBA roster spot

Gilas Pilipinas knows Flynn Cameron as a tough opponent. Now, the New Zealand guard is hoping the NBA gets to know him, too.

Cameron is currently suiting up for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Summer League, using every opportunity to prove he belongs at the highest level.

As a regular fixture for the Tall Blacks, Cameron has become a familiar face to Gilas Pilipinas after several FIBA meetings in recent years. Those battles left an impression on the Kiwi guard, who quickly praised the way the Filipinos approach the game.

“They play hard and they play with passion. It’s always a tough battle.”

That respect extends beyond the national team. When asked if he believes Filipino players have what it takes to compete in the NBA Summer League, Cameron didn’t hesitate before naming one player in particular.

“I think a lot of them can. I feel like everyone on the Filipino national team, even the young guys, Mason Amos. I think anyone can.”

So far in Las Vegas, Cameron has made the most of his limited opportunities.

His best performance came against the Orlando Magic, where he scored 11 points while knocking down three of his six attempts from beyond the arc in just 16 minutes of action.

For Cameron, every minute on the floor is another chance to convince the Trail Blazers that he deserves a longer look.

“I’m just really trying to put my foot in the door, trying to make a good impression. And then staying ready. Whether it’s 15 minutes the other night, 5 minutes, 2 minutes, whatever, I just wanna play and I just wanna show them what I got.”

The 6-foot-5 guard enters Summer League with plenty of momentum after a breakout campaign with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). Cameron captured the team’s Most Improved Player award after averaging 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while helping Adelaide reach the NBL Finals.

He believes that experience has prepared him well for the NBA’s pace and style of play.

“Probably just the pace, but the NBL has helped me out heaps with that. And I take it to my advantage, I value the ball more. That’s also my advantage. Just because I’m playing in the NBL, possession is gold. In the NBA, they play at such a fast pace, high clip. It’s unpredictable sometimes.”

Unlike several Summer League players who pointed to the NBA’s physicality as one of their biggest adjustments, Cameron believes his years in the NBL have already prepared him for that challenge.

“I’ve been playing against grown men, so we check a couple of college kids, I’m pretty good.”

Like many players in Las Vegas, Cameron understands that Summer League is more than just a showcase of talent — it’s an audition for an NBA future.

After years of proving himself with New Zealand and in Australia’s top professional league, he now has another opportunity to take the next step. And if he continues to capitalize on every minute he gets, the familiar face Gilas fans have battled over the years may soon find himself on an NBA roster.

—JKC, GMA News