GB include NBA-linked trio in squad for EuroBasket qualifying double‑header

Great Britain's men's basketball team have named NBA-linked players Amari Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan, alongside Tobi Lawal, in their squad for this week's second preliminary qualifying round for EuroBasket 2029, with fixtures on Thursday in Switzerland and Sunday in Newcastle.

Led by Newcastle Eagles head coach Marc Steutel, the squad features three players who are current or recent participants in the NBA or its G-League, a group Steutel described as, on paper, the strongest GB squad in some time; Dan Clark remains the team's general manager.

Boston Celtics centre Amari Williams, power forward Tobi Lawal — who was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks earlier this summer — and forward Tosan Evbuomwan, who has this summer joined Barcelona after three seasons in the NBA and its reserve G-League, are in the group, with Williams and Evbuomwan set to make their senior GB debuts in the two matches.

Williams "made 23 appearances for the Boston Celtics during his debut NBA season," while Evbuomwan "has 50 career appearances in the NBA," and the trio form three quarters of the four most recent British players to feature in the league, alongside OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks.

Steutel explained the selection was influenced by timing around club seasons: "With every squad selection, you want to try to make sure that you are getting the balance of the most talented players available," Steutel told BBC Sport. "Because of where our players play and the restrictions that has at times, it's not always as straightforward on the outside as people may think. "We feel really excited about this group for sure."

He added that the current international window falls between club seasons, allowing cooperation from NBA and EuroLeague teams: "In the season, guys in the NBA [and] the EuroLeague, we struggle to get. There's very little ability to be able to do that," added Steutel. "We're right before the start of the season and our general manager has done an incredible job communicating with the Boston Celtics. Tosan is closer to home now with Barcelona. "They've both been really supportive and want those guys to play, so [we're] really excited."

Steutel said the call-ups were the result of a long-term process and sustained contact from the management team: "It's not just a 'this window' thing, it has taken years," explains Steutel. "Tosan is someone who I've known for a long time and I've followed his journey. He's someone who has communicated really well with us and Amari likewise. Dan Clark has been communicating with Amari for years. "We're able to get the timing right now and get them in a GB jersey. It's great for the team, but I think it's great for British basketball on the whole."

A school year apart, Evbuomwan moved to Princeton University in New Jersey in 2019 and Williams went to Drexel University in Philadelphia a year later; Williams said: "It was something I've been trying to do since I moved away to America seven years ago," and the Nottingham-born forward was drafted by Orlando Magic in 2025 and traded to the Celtics. Evbuomwan, who played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks during his three seasons in the NBA, said: "It's exciting. All of us being able to commit to this window. "Me and Amari talk a lot and it is something we have talked about for a while. For us to have both our debuts at the same time in the same window is special."

There is a local element to Sunday’s fixture: the match versus Slovakia will be played at the Vertu Arena in Newcastle, the home venue of the Eagles where Evbuomwan previously featured at youth level, and he described the occasion as "Very meaningful. Being able to represent your country is one thing. Being able to represent your country in front of your family and friends is a bonus." Steutel said the staff remain hopeful of adding OG Anunoby in future windows, noting: "Our general manager is in communication with OG and his team," said Steutel. "His season went way into the summer, winning the championship and playing a lot of basketball. Unfortunately, the timing is not right on this window - but we hope so. "Our qualification now is for EuroBasket 2029 and we hope we can get there. It is a long way away. But he's someone else we'd definitely love to see in a GB jersey."

Great Britain will play Switzerland and Slovakia home and away across three international windows in August, November and February; if GB finish top of their group they will enter full qualifying for EuroBasket 2029, while failure to do so will send them into the final round of preliminary qualifying next year.