He is the Sydney Kings' big-name NBA recruit and let's hope he does more than just warm the bench during his side's pre-season match against the Breakers at the Edgar Centre tonight.
The 31-year-old picked up an abdominal strain late last month and did not play in Tuesday night's game against the Breakers in Christchurch.
It would be a terrible shame for the fans and the game if the veteran of 391 NBA games did not get out on court.
''I have to speak with the physio about it,'' Childress said.
''He has tried to make sure I'm OK. As an athlete you just want to go out there and play and worry about the consequences later.
''But it is his job to make sure I'm physically fit to do that. We'll figure it out. I hope that I can play.''
For both sides it is the last hit-out before the season gets under way so it is important he plays if he is able.
The Kings have had a solid pre-season and are hoping to continue working on that all-important chemistry which separates the good sides from the champion sides.
''That is a huge reason why I want to play - just to build that chemistry and really get into a rhythm with my team-mates.
We want to start off the season strong and we know that most of the other teams are playing at full-strength and we want to be the same.''
A player of Childress' calibre is rarely sighted in Australia, let alone New Zealand. According to Wikipedia - the fountain of all knowledge - he signed a three-year $US20 million ($NZ25.6 million) contract with Olympiacos Piraeus of the Greek Basket League in 2008.
Two years later he shifted to the Phoenix Suns for another massive contract worth $US33.5 million over five years.
He was released by the Suns in 2012 but it was agreed they would pay out the remainder of his contract during the next three seasons.
Not a bad deal at all. He then had playing stints with the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans before taking up an offer to join the Kings.
It is quite a change but he seems to be taking it in his stride.
''I was in a situation where I was at a point in my career where I was deciding what I wanted to do.
''It was either go to Europe or try to get on another NBA team and go that route, or go play somewhere and enjoy life.
''[The Kings were] wanting me to be a big part of what they are trying to build so I just decided to make the jump to Sydney.''
The move has also brought him to our shores. New Zealand is, he said, as expected.
''I've seen a lot of green and a lot of sheep and the people have been very nice.''
