GBR - Gordon ruled out of EuroBasket

LONDON (EuroBasket 2011) - Ben Gordon will not be making his international debut for Great Britain this summer after all.

British Basketball on Monday confirmed that the Detroit Pistons guard won't be a part of Chris Finch's charges as they head for EuroBasket in Lithuania at the end of the month.

The 28-year-old guard decided to sit out because of complications regarding the NBA lockout and the proposed insurance coverage.

"We are obviously very disappointed that Ben is not able to join us this year but we fully understand and respect his decision," said British Basketball Performance Director Chris Spice.

"This is a difficult and complex insurance issue caused primarily by the NBA lockout.

"We have done our best to provide a cover that is close to what we would have in a normal season, but in the end things didn’t work out from a financial or scope of cover perspective."

This is the third year in a row that Gordon has missed out on making his international bow for his native country.

He sat out EuroBasket 2009 in Poland when, as a free agent, he left the Chicago Bulls to join the Detroit Pistons and spent that summer getting acclimated to his new team.

Last year, he was ruled out Great Britain's EuroBasket qualifying campaign through injury.
 
“We have built the reputation of our programme to such a level that where the players are concerned, all the professional clubs know that their players are well provided for when they are with the British squad," Spice added.

"Unfortunately for both Ben and ourselves we are unable to connect again this year.

“It will be doubly important that next year we have everything in place for Ben to join us on day one of the programme as every day he is with us will be key to performing at our peak for London 2012.”

FIBA