The 23-year-old Chicago Bulls star will be the main attraction as Britain take on the Czech Republic in their EuroBasket qualifier looking to bounce back from their overtime defeat against Israel in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

 

It will be the first time that the team have played in the O2 Arena, formerly the Mllennium Dome, which is due to stage the finals of the basketball tournament at the 2012 Olympics.

 

Deng said: "My whole family and a lot of friends will be here to watch tomorrow.

 

"Playing here at the 02 Arena will get a lot of British kids excited and hopefully we can give all the fans what they have come to see."

 

Deng was born in Sudan but his family moved to England as refugees and he learnt to play basketabll in London.

 

He has become the British side's talisman, scoring 30 points in Tel Aviv, justifying the decision of British Basketball to pay a six-figure insurance premium so that he could play.

 

Deng said: "The insurance stuff was just one of those things you have to deal with and I am glad it got handled.

 

"Last summer we had such a great success and I wanted it to continue, to keep being a part of it.

 

"Hopefully we will work it all out for the future, and right now I am very happy to be here."

 

Deng has been widely praised for the way he has mixed in with the rest of the British squad.

 

Chris Finch, Britain's American-born coach, said: "Luol has been a leading example.

 

"Since he has been eligible to play for Great Britain, he has shown up every time and answered the call - we can't always say the same for other players.

 

"All the circumstances are very different, and we are not going to name names, but it has to be an utmost priority for all of our players, that they put the GB team first for a period of time.

 

"It is the biggest cultural shift we have to make to be successful.

 

"We have other NBA-level players and we need to get them on board, then keep them and build a nucleus that we can tinker round with to be very successful for years to come.

 

"UK Sport have been fantastic in providing a platform for us to achieve, and British Basketball has done a great job in administering the sport.

 

"But we are a bit frustrated by some of the regulations which rule out eligibility for people who are born in this country, but we can't get them a passport even though they are dually eligible.

 

"We have players all over the world and are making efforts every day to find them, to build relationships with them, and we will make it happen.

 

"The ability to medal in 2012 is not outside the realm of possibility."

 

Deng said: "I just think it should be a privilege and you should be proud to represent your country.

 

"I grew up here and always envisaged Great Britain having a great team and being a part of it.

 

"You have got to want to play, you should not be asked to play.

 

"I am at a part of my career now where everything is happening - and with 2012 being in London, there is going to be no bigger stage."