GBR - Deng and Gordon out of GB squad

LONDON (EuroBasket 2009) - NBA stars Luol Deng and Ben Gordon are both absent from the Great Britain squad announced Monday for EuroBasket.

Chicago Bulls star Deng, who has emerged as the face of GB Basketball in the last two months, continues to suffer from the effects of a stress fracture in his right fibia, first sustained back in February.

"I was only cleared to shoot a couple of weeks ago. I'm on my way but not there just yet. I've also only just started running," said Deng.

"It's tough not playing. Since I started playing for GB the goal was to get to the highest level we can get to and not being able to play this summer is tough but that's just life and it's the smart decision for my health, especially if I'm not 100% to help the guys.

"It has been a very tough season for me; sitting on the sidelines and watching the guys play, knowing that if you were healthy you could play."

Deng will nevertheless attend GB's warm-up tournament in London next month, when they will take on Turkey, Poland and Israel as they continue their preparations for EuroBasket in Poland this September.

"It's heartbreaking that there's a tournament as big as this and I'm not going to be able to participate and I hope the fans can understand why," he added.

While Deng's injury has been known about for some time, GB were more hopeful that Gordon might make his international debut this summer.

The forward signed a lucrative deal with the Detroit Pistons as a free agent at the start of the month, and had indicated he would commit once his contract situation was resolved.

But instead, GB coach Chris Finch put out a squad that made no mention of Gordon.

Finch said: "The door is always open for Ben (Gordon). As for Luol, he committed to GB even before he was playing for us. He was always encouraging the guys to try out and play early on. The great thing about him is when he is there he's giving 100% for the team.

"I know he is gutted and will do whatever he can for the programme, even if it's off court, which is why I'm not surprised to hear that he's pledged to come to Game On At The O2 and lend his support."

The GB squad is without all of its star names, however.

Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who emerged as a fan favourite with the Toronto Raptors after starting last season in Spain, is included, and there are returns for Scotland's Robert Archibald and a fully fit Andy Betts.

"Rob's return is huge, this year we need him more than ever," Finch added. "He is a high level guy and can do more than has been asked of him in the past. He plays hard, is smart, a good rebounder and shoots well. He will be a centre point of what we are building this summer.

"Plus make no mistake that we have other guys on the roster who have had good seasons at their clubs, like Joel and Andy (Betts) and of course Pops, who did well to fight his way back into the NBA."

FIBA