EXCLUSIVE: Deng calls on PM Cameron to halt spending cuts that are 'demolishing' the future of British basketball



Britain's basketball superstar Luol Deng has today delivered a hard-hitting letter to the Prime Minister over the slashed funding that is crippling the sport.



The Chicago Bulls star has weighed in on the debate after UK Sport's funding was cut in the aftermath of the Olympics.



Anger: Luol Deng (left) is desperate to see basketball funding continue in Britain

In a letter sent to 10 Downing Street, Deng wrote: 'We all heard about the "legacy" that London 2012 was going to bring to sport in the UK and I refuse to sit back and let that legacy be completely demolished for basketball.



'I, along with other people involved in the game, have put too much in and care too greatly to let this happen.



'The sport of basketball is a pathway, a pathway that teaches so many valuable lessons on and off the court, how are we supposed to motivate these kids to carry along their journey when there’s now nothing at the end? No Team GB, no Olympic dream, no goal.'



Deng, 27, played for Team GB at London 2012 and is desperate to see more stars emerge in the country.



Star of the show: Deng is Britain's best player and played at London 2012

Stephen Mosley MP has also secured an adjournment debate on ‘Funding for Basketball’ which will take place tonight.



A campaign called 'Fund British Basketball' has also been started, with the aim to get as many people as possible to sign an online petition – which has already been signed by Deng - to make the government take notice.

British Basketball’s performance chairman Roger Moreland added: 'Luol’s support for us is massively important. He recognises the value of funding, not just for the elite levels of sport but to carry on investing in grass roots and creating a route for young people to realise their dreams.'



British Basketball will take up its opportunity to make an 'informal representation' to UK Sport on Wednesday when it will present a ‘compelling and robust’ case for reconsideration.



Depending on the outcome of this meeting the sport will make a decision about lodging a formal appeal, which would then be heard by the Sport Dispute Resolution Panel.

Action: The letter to the Prime Minister from Luol Deng



