Basketball: Sporting Digest

The decision by National Basketball Association players to shun next month's world championships in Athens is a serious blow to the tournament and will hurt the organisers' hopes for a million dollar profit according to the tournament's committee. NBA players have withdrawn from the national team, the defending champions, amid concerns over a possible league lock- out.

Leicester Riders, of the Budweiser League, have appointed Dave Harris, the former England player, as their new coach. Harris takes over from the American Bob Donewald.