The Tall Blacks are looking for a new cleaner. Well at least that is how retiring forward Dillon Boucher describes himself.
‘‘Everyone goes to the toilet but someone needs to clean it. And that's me,'' Boucher said, laughing. Boucher announced his retirement from the international game yesterday, citing injury concerns and a desire to prolong his professional career.
An unfashionable player, Boucher survived more than 100 games during nine seasons with the Tall Blacks through guile and cunning.
He was, in a way, the ultimate underdog. At 1.96m tall, Boucher often found himself matched with much bigger opponents yet, through diligence and sheer bloody-mindedness, would find a way to burgle possession or make a stunning pass.
His trademark ability to pick the pockets of the best players made him one of the most-feared poachers in the game. And while others got the bouquets for leading the scoring or hauling in rebounds, Boucher was in the engine room fighting for the scraps.
‘‘Sometimes the things I do aren't glamorous and don't get many accolades, but every team needs someone to do the dirty work.
‘‘ I grew up like everyone else liking Michael Jordan and Larry Bird and wanting to shoot the threes. But as you get older you realise your role in teams.
‘‘I identified my role quite early . . . stuck to my guns and basically did what I knew would work for me to get to the level I'm at.''
Boucher plans to continue playing in the National Basketball League and also in the Australian Basketball League.
The decision to draw the curtain on his international career did not come easy. Playing for New Zealand has been an honour the 32-year-old has relished. But while his mind was willing the body was not co-operating.
‘‘It was a very hard decision, obviously. ‘‘But probably what hit home for me most this year was just the way my body's broken down. During the season, I have been struggling with a shoulder injury and now a hip flexor injury, which are probably overuse injuries.
‘‘I've sort of been playing all year round now for a good five to six years without a break and I think it has finally hit home to me that I'm not as young as I think I am.''
While Boucher was tempted to stick around and try to help the Tall Blacks qualify for the Beijing Olympics in China this year, he did not want to go into the campaign less than 100% fit.
Boucher made his debut for the Tall Blacks in 1999, but did not establish himself in the squad until a couple of years later. His playing highlight came during the Tall Blacks outstanding campaign at the 2002 world championships in Indianapolis where they finished fourth.
‘‘To go and do that amazing feat was a huge achievement. It is something I'll always hold dear in my heart and something I'm very proud of.
Also representing your country at Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games are right up there as well. Performancewise, 2002 was probably our best on the world stage, but the other things are huge achievements in themselves.''
Tall Black coach Nenad Vucinic sees Boucher more as a champion than a cleaner.
‘‘As he pointed out he was the guy who got it done, we call it an X-factor. It is something you are born with and you can't coach.
‘‘He is one of [the most intelligent players], if not the most intelligent player I have come across. For some reason he sees things that nobody else sees out on the court and we are going to miss him in so many ways.''
