CHICAGO Bulls legend BJ Armstrong has backed Luol Deng to spark a British surge in the NBA after the Great Britain forward's homecoming was confirmed.
Deng, 23, the current Bulls captain, will star alongside fellow Londoner Ben Gordon when top-level Basketball returns to the O2 Arena on October 6. Last year's match between the New Jersey Nets and the Miami Heat was a massive draw and NBA chiefs even hinted at a future London franchise.
Now six-time NBA champions the Bulls will play the Utah Jazz in a pre-season game, giving London fans the chance to see Deng and Gordon in action for the Bulls.
Sudan-born Deng is nursing a leg injury and personal coach David Thorpe has already urged the 6ft 9in star to sit out Britain's European Championship campaign in September - a month ahead of the London date.
But Deng is fiercely patriotic and wants not only to play in all Britain's EuroBasket matches but also in the GB tournament at the O2 from August 14-16 against Israel, Turkey and Slovenia.
But former point guard Armstrong, who had two spells with the Bulls in the 1990s, is delighted with Deng's progress and believes he should play as much as he can.
'Right now Luol is leading the charge,' he said. 'Basketball is ? The value of six- year deal exploding around the world and we're only scratching the surface in the UK, said the 41-year-old. 'We'll see more of the likes of Luol and Ben.
'More and more kids will be influenced by them as you identify more with one of your own. That inspires you to go out and do what they have done.' Armstrong, who retired as a player in 1999, admits he was never sure when, or if, British Basketball would come to the fore during his playing days.
But with London-born Pops Mensah-Bonsu ( Toronto Raptors ) and Kelenna Azubuike (Golden State Warriors) also in the NBA, Armstrong is confident Britain can compete with the world's best at the 2012 Olympics.
'I just never knew when British Basketball was going to arrive,' Armstrong added. 'The likes of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson have made the game so popular and taken it globally to the next level.
'Now we have Luol and Ben beginning to make their mark and they are terrific players who are making a real impact on the Bulls. London and the UK as a whole should be really proud of them both.' NBA Europe Live 2009, featuring the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, will take place at the O2 Arena on October 6.
For tickets visit www.theo2.co.uk or call 0844 856 0202. current the Bulls
?48.4million The value of Deng's current six-year deal with the Bulls
