Representing your country, in basketballing terms, doesn't pay the bills. Even the stars of the mighty USA received but a fraction of their mega-buck salaries for the privilege of pursuing Olympic redemption in Beijing.
Yet the furore that accompanied Kieron Achara's recent withdrawal from the Great Britain side equated with that normally reserved for traitors and ne'er-do-wells. His crime? Toaccede to the demand of his new employers, the Italian club Fortitudo Bologna, that he report for pre-season training rather than do his national service.
This afternoon, at London's 02 Arena, the 6ft10in forward will line up in front of Britain's biggest-ever basketball crowd in a sooner-than-expected return to the fold. GB host the Czech Republic in a qualifier for next summer's European Championships, and having lost narrowly to Israel three days ago, his reassimilation provides ample hope of instant levity.
Achara, simply, has put himself on the line to be here. Having contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds on his Bologna debut in midweek, his sense of duty prevailed. "I want to play for my country," he told the club's general manager. "And if that means Iget released, then so be it."
It is a courageous move for a professional of just one month, fresh from a six-year stint in the United States. "The GB team people weren't getting anywhere with trying to sort things out for themselves," Achara confirmed. "I told him how much the GB programme meant to me. And he and the coach talked and they understood."
At stake is a place in the 2012 Olympics. Should Britain earn a spot in Poland next year, their berth as hosts will be confirmed. Come up short and there is no automatic invite to the party four years hence, but even in defeat in midweek, there was evidence that a full-strength British side might be a force with which to reckon.
"I feel we can win this group," Achara stated. "We just need to learn how to finish off teams, especially now that we're home for these next three games."
Yet the Scot admits bridges will need to be mended with GB coach Chris Finch, who launched a scathing criticism following his prior departure. "I'm still unhappy about what he said about me," he added.
Britain's women, who are out of contention to qualify, play Israel tonight in Tel Aviv.
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