1. Luol Deng was a two-time NBA All-Star and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2012.
61 Facts About Luol Deng
1. 2.
Luol Deng became a British citizen in 2006, and has played for the Great Britain national team.
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Luol Deng was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team as a 19-year-old in 2005.
4.
Luol Deng played two seasons for the Heat before signing with the Lakers in 2016.
5.
Luol Deng spent his last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
6.
Luol Deng has been the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation since 2019.
7.
Luol Deng is an assistant coach for the South Sudan men's national team and has previously served as its head coach.
8.
Luol Deng was born in Wau, Sudan and is a member of the Dinka ethnic group.
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Luol Deng was educated at St Mary's Roman Catholic High School, a voluntary aided state comprehensive school in Croydon in South London.
10.
Luol Deng developed an interest in football, admiring Faustino Asprilla of Newcastle United FC, but continued to play basketball, and was invited to join England's 15-and-under team in that sport.
11.
At Brixton, Luol Deng was coached by Jimmy Rogers, who convinced him to play basketball.
12.
Luol Deng represented Croydon at the London Youth Games, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame.
13.
At age 14, Luol Deng moved to the United States to play basketball at Blair Academy in New Jersey.
14.
Luol Deng was named a tri-captain at Blair along with Villanueva.
15.
Luol Deng was selected to play in the McDonald's High School All-America game, but could not play due to a foot injury.
16.
Luol Deng averaged 30.1 minutes and 15.1 points per game en route to a berth in the 2004 Final Four.
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Luol Deng was the 10th freshman in the Atlantic Coast Conference history to lead all freshmen in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage.
18.
Luol Deng was picked seventh overall by the Phoenix Suns, but was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls by prior agreement.
19.
Luol Deng suffered a season-ending wrist injury late in his rookie season, but still made the NBA All-Rookie First Team and helped the resurgent Bulls return to the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
20.
Luol Deng played in 61 games and averaged 11.7 points per game.
21.
Luol Deng came off the bench in all six games, averaging 10 points per game.
22.
On 27 December 2006, Luol Deng was driving in the lane when Miami Heat's James Posey grabbed him, causing concern that Luol Deng may have re-injured his wrist.
23.
Luol Deng scored 32 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers just three nights later, resolving concern that the wrist would be re-injured.
24.
However, Luol Deng decided to reject the deal and wait until the season ended to continue negotiations.
25.
The Bulls made the playoffs, but Luol Deng missed the 2009 playoffs due to injury.
26.
Luol Deng missed 11 straight games at the end of March 2010, because of a sprained right calf.
27.
Luol Deng scored 26 points in the final game of the series, but could not prevent the Bulls from being eliminated by the Cavaliers.
28.
On 1 November 2010, Luol 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.
29.
Luol Deng finished the season averaging 17.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, being the third scorer for the Bulls behind Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer.
30.
Luol Deng was the Bulls' second leading scorer during the playoffs.
31.
Luol Deng averaged just under 43 minutes, 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game during the 2011 playoffs.
32.
Luol Deng injured his wrist during the fourth quarter against the Charlotte Bobcats on 21 January 2012.
33.
Luol Deng 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.
34.
On 9 February, Luol Deng was selected as a reserve for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, joining teammate Derrick Rose, who was voted in as a starter.
35.
Luol Deng was selected as a reserve for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, along with Joakim Noah.
36.
Luol Deng again led the league in minutes per game with.
37.
Luol Deng had his best performances on 27 and 30 November 2013, when he scored 27 points against the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers in two separate games.
38.
Luol Deng registered six rebounds against the Pistons, and 11 assists against the Cavaliers.
39.
At the time of the trade, Luol Deng was the fifth-longest tenured Bulls player, and fourth-leading scorer in franchise history.
40.
Luol Deng finished the season averaging 14.1 points and 2.5 assists.
41.
Luol Deng finished the season averaging 14 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
42.
On 1 August, Luol Deng played for Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game.
43.
In late November and early December 2015, Luol Deng missed six games with a left hamstring strain.
44.
On 7 July 2016, Luol Deng signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
45.
However, in February 2017, Magic Johnson became the Lakers' president of basketball operations, and coach Luke Walton benched Luol Deng to start rookie Brandon Ingram.
46.
Luol Deng had been the highest-paid Laker in each of his two seasons.
47.
On 10 September 2018, Luol Deng signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reuniting him with Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, and head coach Tom Thibodeau.
48.
Luol Deng would go on to sign a one-day contract with the Bulls to retire with the team.
49.
Luol Deng represented England at under-16 and under-19 levels, and was an ambassador for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
50.
In October 2006, Luol Deng became a naturalised British citizen in a ceremony in Croydon and was called up to play in European competition for the Great Britain national team.
51.
Luol Deng made his debut in a closed international test match against Georgia national team in Pau, France, on 9 August 2007, scoring 19 points.
52.
Luol Deng played with the team at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where he averaged 15.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.
53.
Luol Deng retains South Sudanese citizenship in addition to his British citizenship, making him a dual citizen.
54.
Luol Deng has been credited with helping develop South Sudan's basketball presence and their rise on the international stage.
55.
Luol Deng is involved in numerous charities, such as the UK children's charity School Home Support.
56.
Luol Deng has been noted for his work on behalf of the Lost Boys of Sudan and other refugees.
57.
Luol Deng is a spokesperson for the World Food Programme.
58.
Luol Deng was the cover athlete for NBA Live 09 and NBA Live 10 video games in the United Kingdom.
59.
Luol Deng has invested in real estate almost since the time he entered the NBA in 2004.
60.
Luol Deng is depicted on one of the Brixton Pound's community currency notes.
61.
Luol Deng was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to basketball.