NBA recruits boost GB bid for EuroBasket success

Great Britain’s men’s basketball team have turned to the NBA in their bid to progress into the full qualifying rounds for the 2029 EuroBasket campaign.

The side, led by Newcastle Eagles head coach Marc Steutel, has been able to name three players in his squad who are either current or recent players in the world’s top domestic league for this week’s double-header against Switzerland and Slovakia.

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Boston Celtics centre Amari Williams is part of the squad, as is power forward Tobi Lawal who was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks earlier this summer.

Another addition to what is, on paper, the strongest GB squad in some time is forward Tosan Evbuomwan. The 25-year-old has this summer joined Barcelona following three seasons in the NBA and its reserve G-League.

“With every squad selection, you want to try to make sure that you are getting the balance of the most talented players available,” Steutel told BBC Sport.

“Because of where our players play and the restrictions that has at times, it’s not always as straightforward on the outside as people may think.

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“We feel really excited about this group for sure.”

The trio make up three quarters of the four most recent British players to feature in the league, alongside OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks.

Great Britain enter the second of three preliminary qualifying rounds for the 2029 EuroBasket tournament. They face both Switzerland and Slovakia home and away across three international windows in August, November and February.

Should GB finish top of the group, they will enter full qualifying for EuroBasket. Failure to do so will see them enter the final round of preliminary qualifying next year.

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How have GB been able to land NBA players?

For Evbuomwan and Williams, 24, this double-header on Thursday in Switzerland and then at home to Slovakia in Newcastle on Sunday is set to mark their GB debuts at senior level.

But how the duo have been able to sign up for the latest fixtures is all about timing.

Four of GB’s six first-round qualifying matches for the 2027 Fiba World Cup were in November 2025 and March 2026, which clashed with the NBA…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-recruits-boost-gb-bid-063302410.html

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Publish date : 2026-08-26 06:33:00

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