Gordon backs British coach Finch to step up to NBA

By Howard Lloyd, Sportsbeat

DETROIT Pistons Ben Gordon has backed British basketball coach Chris Finch to make the step up to the NBA - but only after leading his team at the London 2012 Olympics.

STEP UP: British coach Chris Finch - pictured with Chicago's Luol Deng - has been tipped for an NBA appointment by Detroit's Ben Gordon (Action Images)

Gordon, who was born in London and pledged his allegiance to the Great Britain team two years ago, was in Liverpool to watch Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng secure a place in next summer's EuroBasket finals.

Finch has been credited with leading a revival of British basketball fortunes as they seek to make their first Olympic appearance since 1948.

This year he also led the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to an NBA Development League title and was named the league's coach of the year.

And Gordon believes the 40-year old, who started his coaching career with British side Sheffield Sharks before moving to the German basketball Bundesliga, has what it takes to move to make an impact at the very top level.

"He's definitely good enough to go on and coach in the NBA," said Gordon, who hopes to make his long-awaited British debut in Lithuania next summer after missing the qualifying campaign with an ankle injury.

"Hopefully, he can use success with this Great Britain team at London 2012 as a stepping stone towards that, because he is definitely good enough.

"Although I don't know much about the European or British way of coaching, I suppose he's a fairly typical American coach in the way he does things, because he's very relaxed but tells the players exactly what he wants."

READ MORE FROM AN EXCLUSIVE BEN GORDON INTERVIEW THIS WEEKEND