Olympic Glory – Deng & Pops | Ep. 6
In Episode 6, aired on April 13th 2020, it was the one we’ve all been waiting for, as they spoke about British Basketball, the Great Britain set up in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics, and more.
Hear from the duo on:
- The build up to London 2012, helping the GB program rise through the ranks
- Having to earn their spot at the London 2012 Olympics, and not qualifying automatically as the host nation unlike every other sport
- The issues around insuring Luol Deng’s contract to play for the national team
- Some of the experiences on the road around Europe and the more precarious situations
- How they fed off each other as leaders of the GB team
- When their relationship with the programme started going downhill
- Their regrets about not voicing opinions on lack of coaching staff from the inner cities
- How they felt too many staff involved with the program were there for the money and not the love
- How they felt the Olympics was a huge opportunity to change the game in the country
- Their frustrations around funding of the programme from UK Sport
- Not being involved in the decision making and not feeling like their voices were being heard
- Luol asking GB to be a part of his camp and them not ever getting involved
- How Pops got rejected from an application to be on the Basketball England board for not being qualified
- What Jimmy Rogers taught Luol Deng about life
- Joe White’s training regime with Pops
- Luol’s frustration with the cost of facility-hire in London
- How they both want to see British basketball grow
- The process of hiring an agent
- Pops being regularly recognised as football player Yaya Toure
- Facing off against Team USA in Manchester, and what happened when they saw Kobe out the night before the game
- What they would do to build British basketball
- What their workout regimes looked like as pros
- Experiences at the London 2012 Olympics and being in the Olympic Village
- The sacrifices they have made for the game
- And much, much more!
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