Luol Deng

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Luol Deng
Image:Luol-deng09.jpg Deng in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Position	Small forward
Nickname	The Man from Sudan^[1]
League	NBA
Height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Team	Chicago Bulls
Nationality	Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Born	April 16 1985 (1985-04-16) (age 24) Wau, Sudan
College	Duke
Draft	7^th overall, 2004 Phoenix Suns
Pro career	2004–present
Awards	2004-05 NBA All-Rookie First Team 2007 NBA Sportsmanship Award

Luol Deng (born April 16, 1985 in Wau, Sudan) is a British professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls, where he plays small forward.

1 Early life
2 Professional career
3 Citizenship
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Early life

When he was young, his father Aldo, a member of the Sudanese parliament, moved the family to Egypt to escape the Second Sudanese Civil War.^[2] In Egypt, they met former NBA center Manute Bol, another Dinka, who taught Deng's older brother, Deng Deng, how to play basketball. Manute also served as a mentor for Luol himself.^[3]^[4] When they were granted political asylum, his family emigrated to South Norwood in London, England. Deng developed an interest in association football and basketball, and was invited to join England's 15-and-under teams in both sports.^[5] During this time, he began his career at Brixton Topcats. At the age of 13, he played for England's squad in the European Junior Men's Qualifying Tournament, averaging 40 points and 14 rebounds. He was named the MVP of the tournament. Next, he led England to the finals of the European Junior National Tournament, where he averaged 34 points and earned another MVP award. He counts himself a fan of Arsenal F.C.^[6]

At the age of 14, Luol moved to the United States to play basketball at Blair Academy in New Jersey, where one of his teammates was future NBA player Charlie Villanueva. Deng was also named a Tri-Captain at Blair along with Charlie Villanueva and Roberto Alfonso Felipe. During his senior year, Deng was considered the second most promising high school senior in America after LeBron James. He was named First Team All-America by Parade Magazine and USA Today, and was selected to play in the McDonald's High School All-America game, in which he performed at a very high standard and impressed many top NBA players.^[7] After graduation, he decided to attend Duke University. In one season at Duke, he appeared in 37 games and made 32 starts. He averaged 30.1 minutes and scored 15.1 points per game en route to a berth in the 2004 Final Four. He is only the 10th freshman in ACC history to lead all rookies in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage.

[edit] Professional career

After one year at Duke, Deng entered the 2004 NBA Draft. He was picked seventh overall by the Phoenix Suns, but was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls by prior agreement. Deng suffered a season-ending wrist injury late in his rookie season, but still made the NBA All-Rookie First Team to help the resurgent Bulls return to the playoffs for the first time in several years. Deng averaged 11.7 points per game, playing in 61 games. On February 8, Deng recorded a double-double, including 30 points against the Dallas Mavericks.

In his second season, he posted strong performances throughout March and April 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 his rookie season. Deng had four straight double-double performances from February 28 to March 5, with at least ten points and rebounds in each game. In the playoffs, the Bulls faced off against the Miami Heat in a best of 7 game series. Deng came off the bench in all six games, averaging ten points per game.

For the 2006-07 season, Deng was the only Bull to start all 82 regular season games. All of his numbers 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 to Ben 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 as Kevin Garnett.

On December 27, 2006 Deng was driving the lane when Miami Heat player James Posey grabbed him and slammed him to the floor, causing concern that Deng may have re-injured his wrist. Posey earned a flagrant foul, was ejected and suspended for one game. Deng scored 32 points against the Cavaliers just three nights later, however, resolving concern that the wrist would be re-injured. On March 26, 2007 Deng posted a new career-high 38 points to lead the Bulls to a home victory against the Portland Trail Blazers. Deng was in rhythm, converting a spectacular 18 of his 25 shots from the field.

Deng continues to credit Manute Bol as a major influence, saying "He has really helped me out in my life and I know that if I'm playing this game then it's thanks to him, so I owe him a lot."^[8] "Manute started me with this whole thing and basketball. Our relationship is one where he is like an older brother or a father to me. He gives me a lot of advice."^[9]

On May 3, 2007, Deng won the NBA's sportsmanship award in a vote by players. The award honors the player who best exemplifies ethical behavior, fair play and integrity on the court. Deng is involved in numerous charities, and the league will donate $25,000 on his behalf to Pacific Garden Mission, the oldest continuously operating rescue mission in the country. "He really does epitomize everything I had hoped for as a person and a basketball player," general manager John 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 also won the 2006-2007 Golden Icon Award for Best Sports Role Model. The awards are presented by the Travolta entertainment family.

On January 5, 2008 Deng will sit out 4 games with achilles tendinitis. Deng's MRI however revealed that there was no structural damage, but head coach Jim Boylan is sitting him out as a precaution.

^[10].

[edit] Citizenship

Since his birth in Sudan, Deng has lived in Egypt, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Deng represented England at Under-16 and Under-19 level, and is an ambassador for the London 2012 Olympic Games. In October 2006, Deng became a naturalized British citizen in a ceremony in Croydon and was called up to play in European competition for the Great Britain team.^[11] He made his debut against Georgia in Pau, France on August 9 2007, scoring 19 points.^[12] In his first competitive qualifying game repesenting Great Britain Deng scored 21 points (21 Pts, 10 Rbs, 2 Asts, 3 Stls & 2 Blks) against Slovakia, at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena on 21 August 2007.