Outgoing Great Britain coach Joe Prunty has revealed that the national programme has already begun its plans for the new FIBA window, which begins in November.
The new international window has generally been met with criticism saying that with the national sides playing in-season, fans will miss out on seeing the best players in action.
But Prunty, who will step down as GB head coach following Eurobasket due to his commitments as assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks believes that now that the decision has been made, teams should prepare for the long haul.
“The decision to change the FIBA format, you know I’m not part of the discussion as to why the format was changed but it’s changed and it’s about how do we recognise it and how do we make British basketball competitive every time we step on the floor,” Prunty told TalkBasket.
“And come November this is a huge thing for us because last summer we didn’t just qualify for Eurobasket, but we qualified for the World Cup so that’s why last summer was big for British Basketball Federation. We took the steps necessary to get us in position to play in November.”
Great Britain have begun their preparation post-Eurobasket by hiring Mark Clark as its Performance Director and the national side have reportedly appointed Glasgow Rocks coach Tony Garbelotto as Prunty’s successor, according to British outlet MVP.
Prunty will lend a hand to his successor to ease the transition when Eurobasket concludes, he says. but the focus should be on the goings on in Istanbul, starting with Belgium on Friday.
“I’m available,” said Prunty. “The biggest thing is right now – that’s secondary. The focus has to be on Eurobasket because that is where we are at the moment. But it’s all part of the growing process.
“You always have to make yourself available. Moving forward, there are people who are in this programme now who can be there for a long time.”
Garbelotto previously served as chief scout to the GB under Chris Finch ahead of London 2012 and was also on the England coaching side for the senior and under-20 sides in the past.
GB will play Greece, Estonia and Israel in the World Cup qualifiers, beginning with the Greeks in Leicester on November 24.
