STILL HOPE FOR GORDON
08/05/2008

NBA superstar Ben Gordon will miss the start of Great Britain's training camp today but officials have not given up hope of him reporting to the squad.

The London-born Chicago Bulls guard has confirmed he will play for GB rather than wait for a call from the USA, for which he is also eligible.

But Gordon is currently a free-agent with the Bulls and will only make his GB debut in next month's European Championship qualifiers if he has signed a new long-term contract, either in Chicago or with a rival.

GB coach Chris Finch is prepared to wait for Gordon, 25, however, and has earmarked a training spell in Belgium, from August 19-26, as a deadline.

He said: "We understand Ben's position and he has been consistent and up front with us about it all year.

"But when our training camp moves to Belgium later this month, we need him with us if he is going to play.

"That would give him nearly two weeks of practice before we open our group games against Israel and a player of his quality could easily integrate into our team in that time."

The GB team, spearheaded by Gordon's Chicago team mate Luol Deng, opens the British part of their training camp at Brunel University in London today (weds).

They do so without former NBA forward Robert Archibald, guard Mike Lenzly and youngster Dan Clark who have all pulled out due to injury or club commitments.