The friendlies against the reigning Olympic champions are due to be staged at the MEN Arena in July 2012.

"I cannot think of a more exciting prospect for fans in the UK than to see Great Britain play the USA Basketball men's national team in Manchester in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics," said GB forward Luol Deng.

The game will be part of the Global Community Cup, which includes all US basketball men's national team games played outside of formal international competitions.

The US team is set to include NBA superstars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. 

It should be the ideal preparations for Britain's teams who only received the green-light to take part at London 2012 earlier this month following a long and anxious wait.

A British basketball team has not appeared in the Olympics since the men played in 1948, the last occasion London hosted the Games.

"The USA–Great Britain games in Manchester will be a terrific prelude to the 2012 London Olympic Games," said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo.

"The games are key components in the 2012 training plans for the USA Basketball men's and women's national teams.

"I'm sure that both USA teams will feature some of basketball's best players and coaches, and I'm confident the games will be memorable events for all basketball fans."


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March 2011: British basketball teams given all-clear to compete at London 2012