48 DENG LOSS CUTS DEEP

KYLE LOWRY owned the floor on the night Toronto were crowned NBA champions for the first time in June.

Lowry scored 26 points and had 10 assists, seven rebounds and three steals as the Raptors clinched the title against Golden State in Game Six of the Finals.

It earned him a one-year extension worth a massive $31million and the point guard is ready to repay that faith as they start the defence of their crown on Tuesday against New Orleans.

Lowry (above) said: “I’m going to get a lot more attention, but it’s something I’m used to and I’m ready for the challenge. Got to do what’s best for the team and get back to the Promised Land.

“It was an opportunity that worked out for both sides. Toronto is a place I wanted to be.

“It’s a place I’ve been most successful in my career. I think it works on both sides.”

Lowry added: “It’s really important and special to have an opportunity to go out here, and play basketball and make that amount of money playing the sport that you love.

“We didn’t know it was going to get done, but it got done and it’s another stepping stone in my career.” BRITAIN will wait a long time to see another Luol Deng after the Brixton boy retired from the NBA last week after 15 years, 902 games and 10,286 points. But it was not just in the NBA where he made his mark. Deng (left) played 43 games for GB, including the t 2012 Olympics, yielded another 838 points but, more importantly, made British youngsters want to play. And that is the true legacy and big loss for British basketball.

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