A: It's a very tough decision not being able to play but it was just a tough year last year with my injury. I'm very committed to the program as everybody knows. The fracture of my leg was such a serious injury that I need all summer in order to go full speed and I'm not full speed yet, but I'm almost there. Right now it's the right decision, hopefully it will come out as a small sacrifice for my future with the Bulls and my future playing with GB.
Q: Can you talk about Kieron and how he might step in for you?
A: Kieron is a hard worker. Last summer I had a chance to spend time with him and work out with him. He has a lot of passion and love for the game and is fully committed to GB. Hopefully he will get the chance to play more this summer, he didn't get the opportunity last year, but I'm sure when coach gives him the time and the opportunity Kieron will be able to step up and help everyone out. We all love Kieron and we all love his work ethic
Q: Obviously Eurobasket has been the focus right now but have you and the team thought about making it to the World Championships and the finals in Turkey next year, is that something that you have thought about yourself?
A: Yes growing up in England, all that stuff is something I really wanted, playing in the European Championships, the World Championships, the Olympics. A lot of people didn't believe that GB had the talent or the pieces to participate in these tournaments one day. However, I really believe that there's so much talent within the GB team that we are capable of going to these tournaments and competing. That's why I'm really heartbroken that I'm not able to participate this summer but our team is going to get stronger every year, the guys are getting better and the commitment level is stronger.
Q: Was there any opposition from the Bulls for you to play for GB?
A: No the Bulls were very supportive, indeed they have been very supportive since day one in terms of playing with GB. They never had any problems with it and every year that I played with GB I came back and I played for the Bulls, and I played well and I played well with GB. It is actually good for me to play in the summer as I am able to keep in shape. The decision was mine, I knew that if I am not 100% then playing for GB would not be a good idea because I would not be starting the season 100% either. If I was healthy I would definitely be playing and I'm sure the Bulls wouldn't mind it, but because of my injury, it changed a lot of things. Ultimately though, it was my decision to sit out this summer and get healthy and I know that Bulls are happy about that decision.
Q: Given the disappointment fans will feel that you won't be playing at The O2, and neither will Ben Gordon, for the fans who are going, who do you feel are the names to watch for?
A: I'm going to be at The O2, I'm planning on going back and being there, but I won't be playing. For the fans, I'm really sorry about this decision but injuries do happen in what we do. Guys to watch for, for us right now on GB it's a team, I know there's a lot of focus on me, but there are a lot of guys that stand out, Pops Mensah-Bonsu is someone to look out for, Andrew Sullivan had been playing and has been committed to the team for many years now, it's just such a team game, Chris Finch (GB Coach) just does such a great job of making us play together, and we enjoy playing together and it's going to be tough sitting there and watching. The fans should come and cheer on those guys and watch how far these guys have come. I know there's a lot of attention about me not playing but those guys are going to do a great job and put on a great show.
Q: What, realistically, are team GB's chances at the European Championships?
A: I really don't know but it will be interesting. We play good defense and we play a good team game, but we will need to find ways to score. I think that we will show at The O2 tournament and at training camp that we're going to be able to go over there (to Poland) and compete, how it's going to turn out I'm really not sure but I really believe that we will surprise a lot of people in the tournament.
Q: You missed Arch (Robert Archibald)last summer, and obviously, with you not being there it will change the make up of the season, with Arch coming back how much of a positive impact do you think he will have?
A: With Arch it's going to be great. When I played with Arch two years ago, I learnt a lot from him and it's really going to help our young big guys. He's always talking on the court; he's always grabbing guys trying to tell them what to do. He's a good guy to be around a funny guy that gets everyone going. Arch is one of those guys who's a coach, he's playing but he's helping the guys. It's really going to be great for our bigs in terms of just experience and helping the team
Q: Looking at Joel (Freeland) when he does get the opportunity to go to the NBA whether it's with Portland or elsewhere, is he ready now to make that transition?
A: I'm a big fan of Joel, I enjoyed playing with him he's such an energetic player very skilled and very athletic and he's capable of being a great player and I really mean that, not just for GB, or for Europe. I really believe he has the talent to be in the NBA. For Joel, last year was the first time he started to play a lot and I think that the more he will play and the more opportunities he gets the more he will show his skills and I'm interested to go back and see how much he has improved and what he added to his game because I know he was very serious about it in terms of getting better.
Q: Three years to go today until the 2012 Olympics. How confident are you at the moment of you being there and being able to participate in that?
A: I'm really excited but I'm also the kind of person who doesn't like to get too excited too early because it ruins the fun of it. I just really like to look forward to what's next and becoming a great basketball player, that's what I do, so everyday I have to just take the next challenge. Right now my next thing is to recover and work at going full speed, but I would be lying if I said that I don't think about 2012 a lot and how exciting it will be to participate; and not just 2012 but I'm looking forward to being healthy and being able to play with GB again; it's all very exciting.
Q: Because this is your first major injury, when you do go back will it make you more cautious? Will it take you more time to re-adjust or to physiologically play again?
A: No, like you said it is my first major injury, but I think you learn a lot, you learn a lot about your body, you learn a lot about work ethic and how much you have to push yourself. You want to get healthy but you also want to prove to people that you can get back to the level you were at or even better so this injury drives me to become a better player and that's really what I want to get out of this injury.
Q: You're going to be at The O2, do you think that your presence just being there will inspire the team?
A: Yes, I spoke to some of the guys on the team and apologized to them for not being able to participate because they know how much I enjoy their time. I really enjoy myself in the summers playing with those guys and competing with them, like I said it's going to be tough sitting there but I'm looking forward to just being at The O2 and seeing the fans. I know how much we loved it last year, playing at The O2 and getting that recognition that we always wanted since we were kids. So I'm sure they're out there working hard getting excited about it, I'm sure they will miss me just as much as I miss them, but I have confidence in them and I am looking forward to it.
