"The sport of basketball is a pathway, a pathway that teaches so many valuable lessons on and off the court, how are we supposed to motivate these kids to carry along their journey when there's now nothing at the end. No Team GB, no Olympic dream, no goal."
Deng, 27, who played for GB's basketball team in the Olympics, was born is Sudan, but became a British citizen in 2006 and went to school in Croydon, south London and began his career at Brixton Basketball Club.
British Basketball's Performance Chairman, Roger Moreland said: "Luol's support for us is massively important. He recognises the value of funding, not just for the elite levels of sport but to carry on investing in grass roots and creating a route for young people to realise their dreams."
On Wednesday, British basketball will take up its opportunity to make an 'informal representation' to UK Sport when it will present a 'compelling and robust' case for reconsideration. Depending on the outcome of this meeting the sport will make a decision about lodging a formal appeal, which would then be heard by the Sport Dispute Resolution Panel.
Stephen Mosley MP has also secured an Adjournment debate on 'Funding for Basketball' which will take place tonight.
A campaign called 'Fund British Basketball' has also been started, with the aim to get as many people as possible to sign an online petition - which has already been signed by Luol Deng - to make the government take notice. The petition can be seen here.
Deng's full letter has been published on the Daily Mail here.
