Former Tall Blacks basketball coach Steve McKean has died after a short battle with cancer.
Steve McKean and his wife Rache when he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the NZ Sport and Recreation Awards in 2016. Photo: Photosport
McKean was at the helm of the Tall Blacks from 1972-1981 and led the team to their first ever win over Australia in 1978.
He started his New Zealand basketball career with the Auckland Club, Panmure, after arriving from the USA over 50 years ago.
He was an NBL coach for nine years, and during that time he was notably the coach of the first team in the NBL to win 100 games.
He was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 for his services to Sport, and in 2016 was honoured by the wider sports sector when he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards.
-RNZ