Luol Deng and Ben Gordon Not Playing For Great Britain This Summer

According to mirror.co.uk, Luol Deng will not participate for Great Britain this summer as he still tries to recover from the stress fracture that he suffered last summer.

Following reports that he was not playing, Deng addressed the rumors in a conference call with reporters. In the conference call, it was revealed that Ben Gordon also would not play, because he needs to acclimate himself to Detroit.

Q: Does it surprise you given Ben Gordon’s situation that he decided not to play?

A: Ben was very interested in playing. I don’t believe that his decision came from me not playing. I really believe that Ben thought he might be back here with the Bulls and I think it would have been an easier summer: Coming back to play for the same team, the same place, the same house. But now I think that his summer and his plans have all changed. Now he signed with Detroit, he has to go back there and get a place and work out, he has to get adjusted to new guys so right now with the new team I think Ben is making the right decision by committing to Detroit. He just signed with them and they’re looking for big things from him. That said, I am really looking forward to the future, as I am sure he will one day play for GB. Unfortunately he didn’t come back to the Bulls, if he would have signed back with us not only would I be playing with him with GB but also back here. He was a great teammate.

Without both Gordon and Deng, Great Britain seems hopeless going into Eurobasket. I would expect Great Britain to be blown out in almost every game in the tournament.