.jpg) Deng with theMinnesota Timberwolves in 2019 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1985-04-16)16 April 1985 (age 40) |
| Nationality | South Sudanese / British |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 237 lb (108 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Duke (2003–2004) |
| NBA draft | 2004: 1st round, 7th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Phoenix Suns |
| Playing career | 2004–2019 |
| Position | Small forward /power forward |
| Number | 9 |
| Career history | |
| 2004–2014 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2014 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2014–2016 | Miami Heat |
| 2016–2018 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2018–2019 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 13,361 (14.8 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,468 (6.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,042 (2.3 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Luol Ajou DengOBE (born 16 April 1985) is a South Sudanese-born British former professionalbasketball player. He was a two-timeNBA All-Star and was named to theNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2012. Born inSouth Sudan, then part ofSudan, Deng fled the country with his family as a child, eventually settling in theUnited Kingdom. He became aBritish citizen in 2006, and has played for theGreat Britain national team.
After playingcollege basketball for theDuke Blue Devils, Deng was selected by thePhoenix Suns in the first round of the2004 NBA draft with the seventh overall pick. He was named to theNBA All-Rookie First Team as a 19-year-old in 2005. Thesmall forward was an All-Star with the Bulls in 2012 and 2013 before splitting the 2013–14 season with theCleveland Cavaliers. After just half a season with Cleveland, Deng joined theMiami Heat for 2014–15. He played two seasons for the Heat before signing with the Lakers in 2016. He spent his last season with theMinnesota Timberwolves.
Deng has been the president of theSouth Sudan Basketball Federation since 2019. He is an assistant coach for theSouth Sudan men's national basketball team and has previously served as its head coach.
Deng was born inWau,Sudan (present-daySouth Sudan), and is a member of theDinka ethnic group. When he was young, his fatherAldo, a member of the Sudanese parliament, moved the family toEgypt to escape theSecond Sudanese Civil War.[1] In Egypt, they met former NBA playerManute Bol, another Dinka, who taught Deng's older brother,Ajou Deng, how to play basketball and also mentored Luol.[2][3] When they were granted political asylum, his family immigrated toBrixton inSouth London.
Deng was educated atSt Mary's Roman Catholic High School,[4] avoluntary aided state comprehensive school inCroydon in South London. He developed an interest infootball, admiringFaustino Asprilla ofNewcastle United F.C.,[5] but also continued to play basketball and was invited to join England's under-15 team.[2] During this time, he began his career at theBrixton TopCats. At Brixton, Deng was coached byJimmy Rogers, who convinced him to play basketball.[6] He representedCroydon at theLondon Youth Games and was inducted into their Hall of Fame.[7] At age 13, he played for theEngland under-18 team in the1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship qualifying tournament, averaging 40 points and 14 rebounds, and was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the tournament.[citation needed] Next, he led England to the finals of the European Junior National Tournament, where he averaged (34) points and earned another MVP award.[citation needed]
At age 14, Deng moved to the United States to play basketball atBlair Academy inNew Jersey. One of his teammates was future NBA playerCharlie Villanueva. Deng was also named a tri-captain at Blair along with Villanueva. During his senior year, Deng was considered the second most promising high school senior in the United States afterLeBron James and was named First Team All-America byParade andUSA Today. He was selected to play in the McDonald's High School All-America game,[2] but could not play due to a foot injury.[8][9]
Considered a five-star recruit byRivals.com, Deng was listed as the no. 1 small forward and the no. 2 player in the nation in 2003.[10]
Deng accepted an athletic scholarship to attendDuke University, where he played for coachMike Krzyzewski'sDuke Blue Devils basketball team in2003–04. In one season at Duke, he appeared in 37 games and made 32 starts. He averaged 30.1 minutes and 15.1points per game en route to a berth in the2004 Final Four. He was the 10th freshman in theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history to lead all freshmen in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage.[citation needed]
After one year at Duke, Deng entered the2004 NBA draft. He was picked seventh overall by thePhoenix Suns, but was immediately traded to theChicago Bulls by prior agreement. Deng suffered a season-ending wrist injury late in his rookie season, but still made theNBA All-Rookie First Team and helped the resurgent Bulls return to the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Deng played in 61 games and averaged 11.7 points per game. On 8 February 2005, Deng recorded his firstdouble-double in a 107–100 win against theDallas Mavericks.[11]
In his second season, he posted strong performances throughout March and April 2006, to help the Bulls earn their second consecutive playoff berth. His offensive statistics improved in his sophomore season, increasing his scoring to 14.3 points per game, and increasing his rebounding to 6.6 per game, up from a 5.3 average in his rookie season. Deng had four straight double-double performances from 28 February to 5 March, with at least 10 points and rebounds in each game. In the playoffs, the Bulls faced off against theMiami Heat in a seven-game series. Deng came off the bench in all six games, averaging 10 points per game.[citation needed]
For the2006–07 season, Deng was the only Bulls player to start all 82 regular season games. His statistics continued to improve, and he led the team in minutes played (37.5) and field goal percentage (.517), while playing a strong second scoring option toBen Gordon, with a marked improvement to 18.8 points per game. Deng also notably rarely committed fouls on defense (2.00 per game), despite the minutes he played and frequently being outsized in matchups against power forwards such asKevin Garnett.[citation needed]
On 27 December 2006, Deng was driving in the lane when Miami Heat'sJames Posey grabbed him, causing concern that Deng may have re-injured his wrist. Posey earned aflagrant foul, was ejected and suspended for one game.[citation needed] Deng scored 32 points against theCleveland Cavaliers just three nights later, resolving concern that the wrist would be re-injured. On 26 March 2007, Deng posted a new career-high 38 points to lead the Bulls to a 100–89 victory against thePortland Trail Blazers. Deng converted 18 of his 25 shots from the field.[citation needed] On 3 May, Deng won theNBA Sportsmanship Award. For that award, the league donated $25,000 on his behalf toPacific Garden Mission, the oldest continuously operating rescue mission in the country.[citation needed]
Near the beginning of the2007–08 season, the Bulls started negotiating a contract extension with Deng. Negotiations were mostly handled by Bulls chairmanJerry Reinsdorf. The team offered Deng a five-year extension for $57.5 million. However, Deng decided to reject the deal and wait until the season ended to continue negotiations.[12]
In the 2007–08 season, Deng played in 63 games, missing 19 mostly because of leftAchilles tendinitis.[13] Despite injuries, he averaged 17.0 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game.[14] He had his best game of the season against theMilwaukee Bucks when he scored 32 points in a 151–135 victory.[15] The Bulls missed the playoffs in the 2007–08 season for the first time since 2004.
Before the2008–09 season started, Deng agreed to a contract extension for six years and $71 million.[16] After the agreement was announced, Bulls general managerJohn Paxson said in a statement "Signing Luol has always been a priority for this organization and we have always felt that he was a big part of our future. We are very happy that Luol will now be with us long term as we continue to grow as an organization."[12]
Due to injury, Deng played in 48 games. During the regular season his scoring dropped to 14.1 points per game and his rebounding dropped to 6.0 per game. The Bulls made the playoffs, but Deng missed the2009 playoffs due to injury.[14]
Deng played in a total of 70 games during the2009–10 season, also increasing his scoring and rebounding to 17.6 and 7.3 respectively, helping the Bulls make the playoffs again. He missed 11 straight games at the end of March 2010, because of a sprained right calf.[17]
During the first round of the2010 playoffs, Deng averaged 18.8 points along with 5.0 rebounds per game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.[14] He scored 26 points in the final game of the series, but could not prevent the Bulls from being eliminated by the Cavaliers.[18]
On 1 November 2010, Deng scored a new career-high 40 points, hitting 14 of his 19 shots, along with 9 of 11 free throws, against the Portland Trail Blazers, scoring a point a minute.[19] On 24 February 2011, he recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds, and hit the game winning three-point shot with 16 seconds left in a game against theMiami Heat.[20] Throughout the season, Deng significantly improved his three-point shooting after coachTom Thibodeau asked him to. In the past four seasons, Deng attempted 132 three-point shots, whereas during this season he attempted 333, making 115.[21]
Deng finished the season averaging 17.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, being the third scorer for the Bulls behindDerrick Rose (25.0) andCarlos Boozer (17.5).[22] During the first round of the2011 playoffs against theIndiana Pacers, Deng averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, being the second leading scorer of the team behind Derrick Rose.
On 31 March 2011, Eric Bressman ofDime magazine called Deng "the most underrated player" writing he was "never the face of the franchise but always the backbone".[23] Coach Thibodeau has consistently called Deng the "glue" that holds the Bulls together. "Luol's professional. He practices hard. He prepares well. He studies his opponent. He's great at executing offensively and defensively. He's helped this team get better every day," said Thibodeau.[24]
Deng was the Bulls' second leading scorer during the playoffs. In the first game of theEastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat, Deng was praised for his defense onLeBron James. However, the Heat went on to eliminate the Bulls in five games.[25][26] Deng averaged just under 43 minutes, 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game during the 2011 playoffs.[27]
Deng injured his wrist during the fourth quarter against theCharlotte Bobcats on 21 January 2012. Initially thought to be a minor injury, it was later revealed by amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that Deng tore the ligament in his left wrist. He decided to postpone surgery and play the rest of the2011–12 season through the pain. He returned to the starting line-up against the Milwaukee Bucks on 4 February 2012, scoring 21 points with 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block.[citation needed] On 9 February, Deng was selected as a reserve for the2012 NBA All-Star Game, joining teammate Derrick Rose, who was voted in as a starter. This was the first time since 1997 (when bothMichael Jordan andScottie Pippen made the team) that the Bulls had two All-Stars in theNBA All-Star Game. Deng made a buzzer-beating game winner on 24 March, off a tip-in basket to lift the Bulls 102–101 in overtime versus theToronto Raptors.[28] At the end of the season, Deng was selected for theNBA All-Defensive Second Team.
Deng was selected as a reserve for the2013 NBA All-Star Game, along withJoakim Noah. During the2012–13 season, he averaged a team-high 16.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and a career-high 3 assists per game. His free throw percentage of .816 was also a career high. He again led the league in minutes per game with (38.7). Even without Derrick Rose, who was out for the whole year due to anACL injury, the Bulls still tallied a 45–37 record, finishing fifth in theEastern Conference and second in theCentral Division.[citation needed]
The Bulls met theBrooklyn Nets in the first round of the2013 playoffs, and defeated the Nets in seven games. They then met the Miami Heat in the conference semifinals. The Heat defeated the Bulls in five games. The Heat went on to win the2013 NBA Finals. During the 2013 playoffs, Deng averaged 13.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 44.8 minutes per game.
Deng's representatives and Bulls executives had informal talks about extending his contract over the summer, but the team never made a formal offer. Deng's contract was set to expire after the2013–14 season, and he sought a new contract close to $12 million a year over 4–5 seasons. Rumors about him being traded continued throughout the season.[29]
During the first months of the season, Deng again emerged as the Bulls leading scorer with the absence of Derrick Rose. He had his best performances on 27 and 30 November 2013, when he scored 27 points against theDetroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers in two separate games. He also registered six rebounds against the Pistons, and 11 assists against the Cavaliers.[30] During the first two months of the season, Deng averaged a career-high of 19 points and 3.7 assists per game, and also averaged 6.9 rebounds per game.[31]
On 7 January 2014, the Chicago Bulls traded Deng to theCleveland Cavaliers forAndrew Bynum, two future second-round draft picks in2015 and2016 (initially traded from the Trail Blazers to the Cavaliers), a protected future pick the Cavaliers received from theSacramento Kings, and the right to swap first-round picks with the Cavaliers in the 2015 draft.[32] At the time of the trade, Deng was the fifth-longest tenured Bulls player, and fourth-leading scorer in franchise history.[33]
In his Cavaliers debut, Deng had 10 points, one rebound, one steal, and four turnovers in 21 minutes.[34] Two games later, he scored 27 points with five rebounds, four assists, and one block. This was his highest-scoring game with the Cavaliers.[35] Deng finished the season averaging 14.1 points and 2.5 assists.
On 15 July 2014, Deng signed with theMiami Heat.[36] He had his best scoring game of the2014–15 season on 20 January 2015, when he scored 29 points against thePhiladelphia 76ers. Deng finished the season averaging 14 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
On 29 June 2015, Deng exercised his player option for the2015–16 season.[37] On 1 August, Deng played for Team Africa at the2015 NBA Africa exhibition game.[38] In late November and early December 2015, Deng missed six games with a left hamstring strain.[39] On 19 February 2016, he scored a season-high 30 points in a 115–111 win over theAtlanta Hawks.[40] The Heat finished the regular season as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 48–34 record. In the first round of the2016 playoffs, the Heat faced the sixth-seededCharlotte Hornets, and in a game 1 win on 17 April, Deng set a Heat playoff debut record with 31 points on 11-for-13 shooting.[41]
On 7 July 2016, Deng signed a four-year, $72 million contract with theLos Angeles Lakers.[42] The Lakers signed the two-time All-Star along withTimofey Mozgov to big contracts in a bid to remain competitive afterKobe Bryant's recent retirement.[43] However, in February 2017,Magic Johnson became the Lakers' president of basketball operations, and coachLuke Walton benched Deng to start rookieBrandon Ingram.[44][43] He missed the final 22 games of the2016–17 season after being shut down in March to give more playing time to the team's young players.[45]
On opening night of the2017–18 season, Deng made a substitute start in place of a suspendedKentavious Caldwell-Pope; it was the only game he played the entire season.[43] He and head coach Walton mutually decided that it was better for him to stay in the locker room during games than to play meaningless minutes ingarbage time.[43] On 1 September 2018, he was waived and stretched by the Lakers after reaching a buyout agreement.[46] The move freed him to find playing time elsewhere, while the Lakers gainedsalary cap space to potentially offer a maximum contract to a free agent in 2019.[44][47] Deng had been the highest-paid Laker in each of his two seasons.[44]
On 10 September 2018, Deng signed with theMinnesota Timberwolves, reuniting him withDerrick Rose,Jimmy Butler,Taj Gibson, and head coachTom Thibodeau.[48] On 11 February 2019, Deng started in place of an illAndrew Wiggins and scored 12 points in a 130–120 win against theLos Angeles Clippers. It was Deng's first start since 19 October 2017, his lone game for the Lakers during the2017–18 season.[49]
Deng's final NBA game was played on February 27, 2019, in a 131–123 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. In his final game, Deng recorded one rebound and one steal in eight minutes of playing time.[50]
He would go on to sign a one-day contract with the Bulls to retire with the team.[51]
Deng represented England atunder-16 andunder-19 levels, and was an ambassador for the2012 Summer Olympics. In October 2006, Deng became a naturalised British citizen in a ceremony inCroydon and was called up to play in European competition for theGreat Britain national team.[52] He made his debut in a closed international test match againstGeorgia national team inPau, France, on 9 August 2007, scoring 19 points.[53] In his first competitive qualifying game representing Great Britain, Deng collected 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks againstSlovakia national team, atBirmingham'sNational Indoor Arena on 21 August 2007.[54] He played with the team at the2012 Summer Olympics, where he averaged 15.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. However, Great Britain finished with a 1–4 record.[55]
Deng retainsSouth Sudanese citizenship in addition to hisBritish citizenship, making him adual citizen.[56]
Deng has been credited with helping develop South Sudan's basketball presence and their rise on the international stage.[57][58][59] In November 2019, he was appointed for four years as president of theSouth Sudan Basketball Federation (SSBF).[60] On 24 November 2020, it was reported that Deng would coach theSouth Sudan national team in theFIBA AfroBasket 2021 qualifiers.[61] As of 2023, he served as an assistant coach for the South Sudan national team and as president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation.[62] For his efforts with the SSBF, Deng was likened toJerry West bySlam.[57]
Deng is involved in numerous charities,[5] such as the UK children's charity School Home Support.[63] He has been noted for his work on behalf of theLost Boys of Sudan and other refugees.[64][65] During the summers of 2006 and 2007, he went to Africa, Asia and Europe with the NBA for theirBasketball Without Borders tour. He is also a spokesperson for theWorld Food Programme. "He really does epitomize everything I had hoped for as a person and a basketball player", general managerJohn Paxson said. "I think it's one of the reasons we've gotten to the level we're at this year. I'm truly proud of him. I think the world of him as a person and as a player."
Deng is a fan ofPremier League's sideArsenal F.C.[5][66]
Deng was the cover athlete forNBA Live 09 andNBA Live 10 video games in the United Kingdom.[67]
Deng's cousin,Peter Jok, is a professional basketball player.[68]
Deng has invested in real estate almost since the time he entered the NBA in 2004.[69] In 2020, Deng was included in the annualPowerlist as one of the most influential people in the United Kingdom of African/African–Caribbean descent.[70]
In 2010, he was awarded anhonorary doctorate byLoughborough University.[71]
Deng is depicted on one of theBrixton Pound'scommunity currency notes.[72]
Deng was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the2021 Birthday Honours for services to basketball.[73]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Chicago | 61 | 45 | 27.3 | .434 | .265 | .741 | 5.3 | 2.2 | .8 | .4 | 11.7 |
| 2005–06 | Chicago | 78 | 56 | 33.4 | .463 | .269 | .750 | 6.6 | 1.9 | .9 | .6 | 14.3 |
| 2006–07 | Chicago | 82* | 82* | 37.5 | .517 | .143 | .777 | 7.1 | 2.5 | 1.2 | .6 | 18.8 |
| 2007–08 | Chicago | 63 | 59 | 33.8 | .479 | .364 | .770 | 6.3 | 2.5 | .9 | .5 | 17.0 |
| 2008–09 | Chicago | 49 | 46 | 34.0 | .448 | .400 | .796 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.2 | .5 | 14.1 |
| 2009–10 | Chicago | 70 | 69 | 37.9 | .466 | .386 | .764 | 7.3 | 2.0 | .9 | .9 | 17.6 |
| 2010–11 | Chicago | 82 | 82* | 39.1 | .460 | .345 | .750 | 5.8 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .6 | 17.4 |
| 2011–12 | Chicago | 54 | 54 | 39.4* | .412 | .367 | .770 | 6.5 | 2.9 | 1.0 | .7 | 15.3 |
| 2012–13 | Chicago | 75 | 75 | 38.7* | .426 | .322 | .816 | 6.3 | 3.0 | 1.1 | .4 | 16.5 |
| 2013–14 | Chicago | 23 | 23 | 37.4 | .452 | .274 | .815 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 1.0 | .2 | 19.0 |
| 2013–14 | Cleveland | 40 | 40 | 33.8 | .417 | .315 | .771 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .1 | 14.3 |
| 2014–15 | Miami | 72 | 72 | 33.6 | .469 | .355 | .761 | 5.2 | 1.9 | .9 | .3 | 14.0 |
| 2015–16 | Miami | 74 | 73 | 32.4 | .455 | .344 | .755 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.0 | .4 | 12.3 |
| 2016–17 | L.A. Lakers | 56 | 49 | 26.5 | .387 | .309 | .730 | 5.3 | 1.3 | .9 | .4 | 7.6 |
| 2017–18 | L.A. Lakers | 1 | 1 | 13.0 | .500 | – | – | .0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| 2018–19 | Minnesota | 22 | 2 | 17.8 | .500 | .318 | .714 | 3.3 | .8 | .7 | .4 | 7.1 |
| Career | 902 | 828 | 34.3 | .456 | .332 | .769 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | .5 | 14.8 | |
| All-Star | 2 | 0 | 11.5 | .333 | .200 | 1.000 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 5.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Chicago | 6 | 0 | 30.0 | .429 | .200 | .571 | 4.8 | .5 | .8 | .7 | 10.2 |
| 2007 | Chicago | 10 | 10 | 41.0 | .524 | .000 | .807 | 8.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | .7 | 22.2 |
| 2010 | Chicago | 5 | 5 | 40.6 | .463 | .083 | .731 | 5.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | .8 | 18.8 |
| 2011 | Chicago | 16 | 16 | 42.9 | .426 | .324 | .839 | 6.6 | 2.7 | 1.5 | .6 | 16.9 |
| 2012 | Chicago | 6 | 6 | 38.0 | .456 | .364 | .571 | 8.3 | 1.5 | .8 | 1.5 | 14.0 |
| 2013 | Chicago | 5 | 5 | 44.8 | .381 | .056 | .400 | 7.6 | 3.8 | 1.0 | .6 | 13.8 |
| 2016 | Miami | 14 | 14 | 35.4 | .471 | .421 | .842 | 5.9 | 1.6 | .9 | .6 | 13.3 |
| Career | 62 | 56 | 39.1 | .455 | .311 | .765 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 1.1 | .7 | 15.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Duke | 37 | 32 | 31.1 | .476 | .360 | .710 | 6.9 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 15.1 |
