GBR - Lenzly’s big moment just around the corner

NYMBURK (Olympics) - The countdown is on for Mike Lenzly of Great Britain.

A 30-year-old guard in his third season with Czech Republic outfit Nymburk, Lenzly is keeping his fingers crossed that in several months, he’ll be healthy and in the British national team again.

This isn’t just any summer in the life of Lenzly.

If he earns a spot in the national team, he will play at the London Olympics.

"I've been invited to training camp once again this summer,” Lenzly says to FIBA.com.

“I'm not sure which guys are showing up and which guys aren't, but I'm sure everyone is going to want to play.

“They're going to keep the best 12 guys and just go from there.”

Lenzly speaks with an American accent.

He was born in Oxford, England, when his parents were stationed in the country with the U.S. military, but moved to the United States at a young age and now calls Atlanta, Georgia, his home.

After playing college basketball for Wofford in Spartanburg, South Carolina, he embarked in 2003 on a professional career in Europe that has seen him play in numerous countries.

With Britain, he has competed in the last two EuroBaskets.

Nothing would compare to walking into the Olympic stadium during the Opening Ceremony and circling the track, waving to fans.

"I can't even imagine it,” Lenzly admits.

“But it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I'm looking forward to the opportunity.”

Deng and Pops

Britain haven’t been able to put their best team on the floor at a EuroBasket, yet.

Luol Deng and Pops Mensah-Bonsu have poured in the points and pulled down the rebounds for the national team in EuroBasket qualifying campaigns yet they have not played in a Final Round together.

Chicago Bulls forward Deng, who will play in his first NBA All-Star Game later this month, missed EuroBasket 2009 in Poland with an injury while Besiktas big man Mensah-Bonsu, who has NBA experience under his belt as a reserve with different teams, was recovering from shoulder surgery last summer and missed the EuroBasket in Lithuania.

Britain failed to advance from the Preliminary Round on both occasions.

They did manage to win games at EuroBasket 2011 against Portugal and Poland, but the victories came too late as Britain had already suffered defeats to Lithuania, Turkey and Spain and had no chance of progressing.

Lenzly says high-flying Mensah-Bonsu was missed.

"He can change the game for us,” Lenzly says.

“One play can change the game of basketball.

“Obviously, he is super-athletic and whenever you lose a guy like that, it hurts you.

“But we have a lot of great big men on our team.

“We're stacked at that position. I'm glad to be on that team and hopefully everyone can come back healthy.”

One conclusion some drew last summer was that Britain at times sacrificed team play with Deng in the team in Lithuania and relied too much on his one-on-one skills.

"I think every team struggles with that,” Lenzly says, “putting a team together during the summer and not having a chance to practice.

“Luol is such a great player and maybe sometimes we rely on him too much and don't use the offense to get other guys involved.

“But I think the more time that we get to play with him, the more we get used to him.

“He relies on us to make shots. I think you saw that Joel (Freeland) played well towards the end (in Lithuania) and other guys played well towards the end. I think by having more time this summer, and if we get everyone healthy - we should get Pops back this summer – we’ll be better.”

Another NBA player, Ben Gordon, has been named in Britain’s preliminary squads.

The Detroit Pistons guard, who like Lenzly was born in England but left for the United States at a young age, has yet to put on the British shirt.

It remains to be seen if he will finally make his debut for Britain at the Olympics.

Some wonder if it’s correct for him to take a roster spot without having played in previous summers.

"That's not really a question for me,” Lenzly says.

“I don't know what's going to happen.

“Obviously, he's had his reasons for not coming to the team. I'm not sure what they are.”

If Gordon does make himself available, Lenzly’s place in the squad could be under threat.

"That's just part of life,” Lenzly says.

“Whoever shows up, I'm going to go in and work hard and hopefully that will be enough to make the team.

“If not, I wish those guys luck.”

Britain ought to benefit by competing  in front of their own fans.

Lenzly isn’t taking anything for granted, but he looks ahead to the London Games and does see himself in a competition that is going to be watched from all corners of the globe.

"I think it's going to be huge, playing for the first time on home soil,” Lenzly says.

“Guys will be ready to play.

“Hopefully we'll put on a good show and gets some wins.”

FIBA