• London Olympics 2012

US basketball stars could be forced to miss 2012 Games

Kobe Bryant may be prohibited from playing at London 2012 © Getty Images

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British fans could miss out on the chance to see some of basketball's biggest names at London 2012, as American stars could be forced to sit out the Games due to the ongoing NBA lockout.

Tickets for the basketball events, which take place at the purpose-built basketball arena for the group stages and early knockout rounds before moving to the Greenwich (02) Arena for the closing stages, were one of the most sought-after during the application process.

Team USA are undoubtedly the biggest draw but spectators may yet see a travelling party filled with unfamiliar names, as the recognised stars are forced to sit at home.

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and others were hoping to bring back gold from next summer's Games - which will be the 20th anniversary of the famous US 'Dream Team' that included MIchael Jordan and Larry Bird - but that could now depend on when the NBA's current work stoppage ends.

NBA stars representing other countries, for example Team GB's Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, are unlikely to be affected, however.

All players are currently locked out of NBA team facilities as they argue with team owners about how the league's revenues are divided, a dispute that experts anticipate will prove far harder to resolve than the recently ended NFL lockout.

There has been talk that the entire 2011-12 season could be lost to the dispute and, with Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo reporting to the NBA, it appears that - were the lockout still ongoing at the time of London 2012 - all contracted American players would be unavailable for selection.

Team USA have decided to send a squad made up entirely of NBA Development League players - where pro teams send reserve players to gain experience - to the forthcoming Pan-Am games, a move that would likely be replicated next summer if the lockout continues.

"We're excited about the opportunity for players and coaches from the NBA Development League to represent their country on an international stage," said NBA D-League president Dan Reed. "This is another testament to the world-class basketball talent we're attracting and promoting to the NBA, and we're very pleased to partner with USA Basketball to go for the gold!"

A squad made up of college players is another alternative - which was what happened at the World Championships last time there was a lockout, in 1998 - while Americans playing overseas and undrafted professionals could also be called upon.

Team USA are due to play a friendly against Team GB in Manchester prior to the Games.

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