National basketball teams update: Great Britain and Brazil prepare for major qualifiers

The Great Britain men's national basketball team has called up three players with NBA connections for the second preliminary qualifying round of EuroBasket 2029. The squad, led by coach Marc Steutel, includes center Amari Williams of the Boston Celtics, forward Tobi Lawal, a recent Dallas Mavericks draft pick, and forward Tosan Evbuomwan, who recently joined Barcelona after stints with several NBA and G League teams.

Great Britain is scheduled to face Switzerland and Slovakia in upcoming matches. The team is competing in the second of three preliminary phases to secure a spot in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Brazil's men's national basketball team is preparing for the 2027 World Cup with a focus on tactical organization and defensive control. Head coach Aleksandar Petrovic noted that the team is becoming less dependent on the NBA, as more Brazilian players are finding opportunities in European leagues and the US collegiate system. Currently ranked ninth by FIBA, Brazil is looking to improve its standing following a strong performance in the AmeriCup and a perfect start to the World Cup qualifiers.