Great Britain basketball: Fiba ban felt worse than ‘getting hit with a sledgehammer’

The immediate priority for the sport became to ensure that the Great Britain team could compete in the November international window.

While Basketball England is working with SLB to deliver the game against Lithuania, other stakeholders such as UK Sport and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are also joining in to chart a path forward.

Lasker believes this chaotic moment could still be a turning point.

He says the opportunity is “huge” given that the NBA plans to launch a new league based in Europe, including potential teams in London and Manchester, in 2027.

“This gives the sport a chance to hit the reset button and build a solid foundation,” the American added.

“If we take advantage, British basketball could explode. If we don’t, we may never get an opportunity like this again.”

SLB interim president Sanjay Bhandari said the crisis “showed the risks and dangers of inadequately challenging governance” and acknowledged the sport needed a governance review, saying lessons had to be learned.

Steutel agrees that change is essential, adding: “We need people who will take the sport forward in terms of performance, business, administration and finance.”

But more urgently, his team has a match to play.

While this unpleasant story may be disturbing for the players, GB guard Josh Ward-Hibbert believes it will not affect their performance against Lithuania.

“You’re hearing rumblings of uncertainty within the federation and the league, which could be worrying,” he said. “But you’re just trying to control what you can.

“Everyone understands where we are as a group and is doing their best to move the national team forward.”

Considering the major concerns earlier this month, the fact that the match is even being played is already progress.