US basketball players confused by New Zealand's haka ahead of Fiba World Cup match

Obviously hadn't encountered famous dance before

James Harden

Famous around the world, the Haka is performed by New Zealand national teams ahead of big matches

Most famously exported by the All Blacks rugby union side, the traditional Maori war dance is well known to sports fans.

But not the US national basketball team.

Ahead of the Fiba World Cup match between the two nations the New Zealand team left their opponents bewildered with the dance.

Houston Rockets star James Harden and Denver Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried were particular confused at the episode.

Unfortunately for New Zealand the Haka could not inspire the team to win, with Team USA winning 98-71.