Great Britain Add NBA Experience for EuroBasket Qualifying Double-Header

Great Britain have added three players with current, recent or prospective NBA ties for this week's 2029 EuroBasket preliminary qualifying games against Switzerland and Slovakia. BBC Sport reported that Boston Celtics centre Amari Williams, Dallas Mavericks draft pick Tobi Lawal and new Barcelona forward Tosan Evbuomwan are all in coach Marc Steutel's squad for the double-header.

Williams and Evbuomwan are set to make their senior Great Britain debuts. Williams, 24, was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2025 before being traded to Boston. Evbuomwan, 25, spent three seasons in the NBA and G League, representing the Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks before joining Barcelona this summer. Lawal was drafted by Dallas earlier this year.

The schedule begins away to Switzerland on Thursday, followed by a home game against Slovakia at Newcastle's Vertu Arena on Sunday. The Newcastle fixture carries an additional connection for Evbuomwan, who played for the Eagles at youth level and is due to represent Britain in front of family and friends.

Steutel told BBC Sport that player availability is often constrained by the NBA and EuroLeague calendars. This international window falls before those domestic seasons begin, creating an opportunity that was unavailable during several recent World Cup qualifying dates. He credited Great Britain general manager Dan Clark with maintaining long-term communication with the players and their clubs.

Britain are in the second of three preliminary qualifying rounds for EuroBasket 2029. They will play Switzerland and Slovakia home and away across windows in August, November and February. Finishing top of the three-team group would take Britain into full qualifying; otherwise, the team would enter the final preliminary round next year.

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby, the other recent British NBA player identified in the BBC report, is not part of this window. Steutel said Britain's management remains in contact with Anunoby and his representatives, but the timing was not right after his extended club season. For now, the available trio gives Britain an unusually experienced group for the opening games of this qualifying stage.