DENG OUT OF EUROS
06/28/2009

LUOL Deng looks certain to miss this summer's European Championships with Great Britain as he makes slow progress to recover from a shin injury.

The Chicago Bulls forward had his season cut short with a stress fracture and has been rehabilitating in the US in a bid to avoid surgery.

Now, the Bulls have announced that Deng has informed them he will not play for GB in Poland in September as the Brits make their Eurobasket debut.

Bulls GM Gar (corr) Forman said: "The last we talked to Luol, I don't think he's going to participate this summer.

"He may join the team to be around them because he is a leader for them but the last we heard, we don't think he's going to play."

GB officials have yet to be informed that the 6'9" superstar is out of the Euros but his absence will be a sickening blow as the Brits find themselves in the toughest group along with world champions Spain, Serbia and Slovenia.

Ian Whittell for 24/7.