Chicago Deng's Mission : Lead The Britain

BIRMINGHAM, England — British basketball — underfunded and unappreciated — has been crying out for a saviour.

Luol Deng could be it.

The 22-year-old native of Sudan moved to London as a child to escape the conflict in his homeland, and eventually worked his way up to the NBA, where he plays for the Chicago Bulls.
Now he's back in Britain and hoping to lead the national team to a berth in the 2012 London Olympics.

"Britain couldn't ask for a better ambassador, not only for all sports, but the country in general," Britain head coach Chris Finch said. "He's extremely professional and takes what he does seriously. Whether that's campaigning for humanitarian issues or playing for GB or being a better Chicago Bull."

The hard part is getting the kids in Britain to take an interest in basketball.

"It's not just going to happen overnight — it's going to take some time. The better we do the more attention the sport will get," Deng said Monday. "With 2012 and the GB team we have a chance. When kids see us play I think it will inspire then and motivate them to take the sport seriously."

The six-foot-nine forward is scheduled to make his competitive debut in Britain for the national team on Tuesday in Birmingham, with victory against Slovakia in the EuroBasket Division B qualifier crucial to playing in the 2012 Games.

If they get through the group and the playoffs, the team will move up to EuroBasket Division A — the final step en route to the Olympics.

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source : globesports.com