Dan Clark claims Great Britain appearances record but aims to play on

MILAN (Italy) - Great Britain captain Dan Clark broke the team’s record for most appearances on Monday but pledged to continue on beyond FIBA EuroBasket 2022.

The 33-year-old forward, who made his debut in a friendly against Poland in 2009, was in uniform for the 117^th time in GB’s 93-77 defeat to Greece in Milan.

The only remaining member of the roster here from the London 2012 Olympics in his hometown, Clark has been the axis of consistency around which GB re-built following an era in which it was able to call on players with NBA experience.

“The beautiful thing for me has been the journey I've shared with everybody." - Dan Clark

But, over three very different decades, the national side has been a passionate project, Clark claimed, as he surpassed former teammate Eric Boateng at the head of this chart. Still, he hopes to maintain his present role as elder statesman. 

“I had a couple of tough years of injury but my body's feeling good,” he said. “With experience, you learn how to look after yourself.  My body's feeling better and better.

“Emotionally it's been an interesting day. I had a lot of nice messages from a lot of great people that I've worked with over the years. I'm working now with this group of guys and we've built us a very solid bond over the last four, five, six years.

"It's a special day."

Those missives included colleagues past and present, including two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng and present Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo, who witnessed Clark – latterly playing with Manchester Giants on home soil – go from newbie to veteran.

“On such an amazing accomplishment, becoming the most-capped men's player, and surpassing another great gentleman and great basketball player, Eric Boateng, in breaking this record, who was also part of things way back in the beginning, true credit to you,” said current Canada and Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, who began his international career as GB’s assistant.

Current GB coach Nate Reinking was Clark’s teammate in that era. He has witnessed Clark’s evolution from a young prospect with Spanish club Estudiantes Madrid to an old hand.

And he said: “Dan’s been an example for many, many years as someone who somehow figured out a way to be at five EuroBaskets and the Olympics. He's seen it all from the bottom to the top, this whole program. 

“So there's no words. It's an honor to play beside him. It's an honor to coach him.”

Clark and current GB head coach Nate Reinking were teammates at the London Olympics

Joe Prunty, who helmed GB at EuroBasket 2013, praised Clark’s wider commitment to bettering the sport in the UK. “The discussions that we've had on how to improve British Basketball, how to build more grassroots programs to encourage more and more kids to play. 

”You’ve been a tremendous example of committing to the program and sticking with it. It hasn't always been easy, but you've continued to battle through.”

Commentating on the record-breaking contest for Courtside 1891 in Milan was Clark’s father – and one-time head coach of Great Britain women's national team – Mark Clark.

Mark Clark was the play-by-play announcer for the Great Britain v Greece game in Milan, where his son Dan set the new GB record

"I couldn’t be prouder of his feat, and the manner in which he approaches his craft," he said.

“There is no secret: he’s the secret,” the elder Clark said. “He has a crazy work ethic. He’s played through injuries. People know he’s a great locker room guy and that sums him up. 

“He is all about loving the grind.”

His son added: "Looking back, it is easy to remember certain games and moments in those games and there are lots of great moments. But the beautiful thing for me has been the journey I've shared with everybody.”

FIBA