NBA star Luol Deng is set to sit out the European championships this summer
NBA star Luol Deng has said he is unlikely to play for Great Britain in the EuroBasket this summer.
Last Updated: 16/02/13 8:43am
The Chicago Bulls player's decision not to turn out in the sport's European championship could have repercussions for retaining funding from UK Sport.
Deng personally wrote to Prime Minister David Cameron when basketball's funding was cut following the Olympics and helped to have the decision reversed.
However, with any funding beyond next year dependant on the progress made by the men's and women's teams, his absence this summer could prove costly.
"I haven't made the decision 100% [but] most likely I'm not [playing]," he told BBC Sport.
"I would like to have...a summer - especially the summer coming up - (resting). Last summer I wanted to do the Olympics and I showed how much I wanted to do it.
"But this summer coming up I think I'll tone it down a little more but it doesn't change the fact that I'm with the team. I said that even before the Olympics.
"This is not about the team getting the money or not, this is my decision. We have a lot of good players on the team to still be successful and we're in a good position. I fully trust in the guys.
"The funding is not just for me to play, the funding is more for the youth and expanding the game."