NBA stars Luol Deng and Ben Gordon are set to miss the start of Great Britain’s training camp this weekend as officials from British Basketball attempt to arrange insurance for both players.
With the NBA’s own policy no longer in operation due to the league’s current labour dispute, the governing body must now arrange cover for the pair, whose respective contracts with the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons are worth over £70 million.
Deng is understood to have returned to Chicago on Thursday after attending a clinic for his Foundation in London. Gordon – whose international debut has been long pending – is also thought to still be in the United States.
And officials are now in a race to ensure the duo do not miss the entire build-up to next month’s EuroBasket finals in Lithuania, including a six-nation Olympic test event in London.
“They want to be here and we want them here,†confirmed British Basketball’s performance manager Ron Wuotila. “But it’s just very complicated.â€
Several other countries, including France, Spain and Turkey, have already secured insurance for their NBA players.
Robert Archibald has been given permission to arrive late following the birth of his child but the remainder of the squad and the GB coaching staff will arrive in Surrey at the team’s HQ on Saturday.
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