After all the speculation regarding Joel Freeland’s future with Unicaja Malaga over the last few months, the Great Britain international was just happy to get back onto the basketball court.
Freeland was linked with a move to ACB champions, Regal FC Barcelona, but negotiations broke down, and Freeland’s future is with the Malaga side.
Freeland can now concentrate on representing his country at the upcoming Eurobasket, and after playing his first competitive game in two months, a 96-70 victory over the Netherlands. Freeland was just happy to forget about the stress off the court, and focus on playing on the court.
“On a personal level, I feel fit, I feel good,” Freeland stated. “I haven’t played for two-and-a-half months and all I’m doing is trying to get the cobwebs out but it felt good out there.”
Great Britain open their Eurobasket campaign with a game against the hosts Lithuania in Panevezys.
“Anytime we play Lithuania it’ll be tough. They will no doubt be the home side, they will have a massive crowd behind them, but we will be ready and we’ll be ready for anyone that we come up against.”
Despite being in the “group of death”, Freeland admits that it will be tough, but that GB must go into the games with no fear.
Great Britain are drawn in Group A with Spain, Turkey, Lithuania, Poland and an additional qualifier.
“I would say that Spain are favourites to win the group,” Freeland said. “But we showed that a couple of years ago that we can go down to the wire with Spain so anything is possible. We have the talent to compete with these teams, no doubt.
“We will play with no fear, and play with professionalism and hope for the best,” Freeland stated.
