Detroit Pistons’ Ben Gordon will not represent United Kingdom at FIBA Euro Basket 2011- NBA Update
Ben Gordon will not be part of the Great Britain Men’s Basketball team, which is set to compete in the European Championships set to begin at the end of the current month. This was revealed by British Basketball's performance director
Chris Spice.
The Euro Basket tournament is set to be held in Lithuania from 31 August to 18 September and Great Britain had hoped earlier that their star player would be able to compete in the event. However Spice has revealed that insurance
issue’s mean that Gordon will not be able to take part in the tournament.
Spice said: "It is difficult and it is complex and if I was a betting man I don't think it is going to happen unfortunately.”
"We'll know on Monday but it is looking unlikely.”
"In the end we have not been able to afford the same level of cover he would get in a normal year in an NBA deal.”
Spice went on to reveal that he considered the NBA lockout the main reason for Gordon’s unavailability. The NBA owners and players have been locked in a bitter dispute with regards to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and their
failure to reach common ground resulted in a lockout which is now into its second month.
Spice said because of the NBA lockout, the Detroit Pistons star cannot be given the sort of insurance cover he would otherwise get.
"There is no question in my mind, if the NBA lockout wasn't there Ben would be playing for us this year because the cover would be in place.”
"I am 100% certain he will be with us next year if there is no lockout."
Gordon now plays for Detroit Pistons but started his career with the Chicago Bulls. He was the top scorer for Chicago in 4 of his 5 seasons at the franchise before he decided to move as a free agent to the Detroit Pistons. Gordon
has not enjoyed the same level of success in Motor city but still remains the biggest name in the Great Britain team.
One man who looks set to join the team is Gordon’s former Bulls teammate Luol Deng. Deng was able to negotiate a substantial insurance deal Team GB and can thus now compete in the Euro Basket tournament.
"Playing for GB is always important to me so I'm really glad we could resolve this," said the 26-year-old Deng.
His contract is not as large as that of Ben Gordon but the small forward is considered one of the top players at the Chicago Bulls. He was a vital part of the team as they finished first in both conferences in the regular season.
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