GBR - Deng out of action with torn wrist ligament

CHICAGO (NBA/Olympics) - Great Britain basketball fans will be worried about their star player Luol Deng because the Chicago Bulls forward is sidelined indefinitely with a torn ligament in his left wrist.

Deng picked up the injury in Saturday's win over the Charlotte Bobcats.

A similar injury to his right wrist during his rookie campaign forced Deng to undergo surgery in March and not play again for Chicago that season.

Deng is hoping to return to the court soon.

"This time around I'm familiar with it," he said.

"It's on my left which is not like having it on my right (or shooting hand). I know how it feels pain-wise and am just trying to get it down to a certain level where I can play again. I'm really confident in the fact that I'll be out there. Hopefully soon, but I'll be out there."

The 2.06m forward averaged 24.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists for Britain last summer as they won two of their five games at the EuroBasket in Lithuania and finished joint 13th.

One of Britain's other leading players, Unicaja Malaga's Joel Freeland, has been sidelined for the past few weeks with an ankle injury.

FIBA