Bobcats' Mullens will miss London Olympics (toe)

LONDON (AP) Byron Mullens will miss the London Olympics because of an injury, depriving host Britain of one of its three NBA players.

The Charlotte Bobcats center, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, but has an English mother, is shelved for the tournament because of a long-standing toe problem.

Mullens received his British passport in March and hasn't yet played for Britain.

Britain coach Chris Finch says: "It is disappointing but we have a very strong squad in camp."

Detroit Pistons guard Ben Gordon and Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng are the other NBA players on the Britain squad, which was allowed to compete at the Olympics by the International Basketball Federation despite not qualifying.

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