Luol Deng facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Luol Deng
OBE

Deng with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2019
Personal information
Born	(1985-04-16) 16 April 1985 (age 40) Wau, Sudan
Nationality	South Sudanese / British
High school	St Mary's Roman Catholic (Croydon, London) Blair Academy (Blairstown, New Jersey)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	237 lb (108 kg)
Career information
College	Duke (2003–2004)
NBA Draft	2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Pro career	2004–2019
Career history
2004–2014	Chicago Bulls
2014	Cleveland Cavaliers
2014–2016	Miami Heat
2016–2018	Los Angeles Lakers
2018–2019	Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA All-Star (2012, 2013) NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2012) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2005) USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2004) Third-team All-ACC (2004) First-team Parade All-American (2003) McDonald's All-American (2003)
Career NBA statistics
Points	13,361 (14.8 ppg)
Rebounds	5,468 (6.1 rpg)
Assists	2,042 (2.3 apg)

Luol Ajou Deng is a former professional basketball player who was born in South Sudan and later became a British citizen. He was a two-time NBA All-Star, which means he was chosen as one of the best players in the league. In 2012, he was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for his excellent defensive skills.

Deng's family had to leave their home in Sudan when he was a child. They moved to the United Kingdom, where Deng grew up. He became a British citizen in 2006 and played for the Great Britain national team in the Olympics.

After playing college basketball for the famous Duke Blue Devils, Deng was chosen by the Phoenix Suns in the 2004 NBA draft. He was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls. As a 19-year-old rookie, he was so good that he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He played most of his career with the Bulls before playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Since 2019, Deng has been the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, helping to grow the sport in his home country.

Early Life and Journey to the NBA

Deng was born in Wau, Sudan. He is part of the Dinka ethnic group. When he was a boy, his father, who was a member of the Sudanese government, moved the family to Egypt to escape a civil war. In Egypt, they met another Dinka and former NBA star, Manute Bol. Bol taught Deng's older brother how to play basketball and also became a mentor to Luol.

Later, his family was granted political asylum, which allowed them to move to Brixton, a neighborhood in South London. In London, Deng loved to play soccer but also became very good at basketball. He joined a local team called the Brixton TopCats. At age 13, he was already playing for England's under-18 team and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of a European tournament.

When he was 14, Deng moved to the United States to play at Blair Academy, a high school in New Jersey known for its basketball program. There, he was a teammate of future NBA player Charlie Villanueva. By his senior year, Deng was seen as one of the top high school players in the country, right behind LeBron James.

College Career at Duke

Deng was a top recruit and chose to play for the Duke University Blue Devils, one of the best college basketball teams in the country. He played for the legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski.

In his only season at Duke (2003–04), he played in 37 games and averaged over 15 points per game. He helped lead his team to the Final Four, which is the championship round of the national college tournament. He was one of the best freshmen in the entire conference.

Professional NBA Career

Chicago Bulls (2004–2014)

Deng playing for the Chicago Bulls in 2009.

After just one year in college, Deng entered the 2004 NBA draft. He was picked seventh by the Phoenix Suns but was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls. In his first year, he played so well that he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, even though a wrist injury ended his season early.

Over the next few years, Deng became a star for the Bulls. In the 2006–07 season, he was the only Bull to start all 82 games and averaged almost 19 points per game. He was known for his smart defense and for being a great teammate. For his good behavior on the court, he won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2007.

From 2008 to 2011, Deng continued to be a key player for Chicago. He signed a large contract extension in 2008, showing how much the team valued him. He helped the Bulls make the playoffs several times. His coach, Tom Thibodeau, often called Deng the "glue" that held the team together.

All-Star Seasons

Deng shooting a jump shot for the Bulls.

The 2011–12 season was a special one for Deng. On January 21, 2012, he badly injured a ligament in his wrist. Instead of having surgery, he decided to play through the pain for the rest of the season to help his team. His toughness and great play earned him a spot in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.

The next season, he was selected as an All-Star for the second time. He led the entire league in minutes played per game for two years in a row, showing his incredible stamina.

Later Career and Retirement

Cleveland and Miami (2014–2016)

On January 7, 2014, after nearly ten years with the Bulls, Deng was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played there for half a season before signing with the Miami Heat in July 2014.

With the Heat, Deng was a solid starter for two seasons. In the 2016 playoffs, he had an amazing game against the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 31 points.

Los Angeles and Minnesota (2016–2019)

In 2016, Deng signed a big contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the team soon decided to focus on giving more playing time to its younger players. This meant Deng did not play much, appearing in only one game during the 2017–18 season.

In 2018, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he was reunited with some of his old Bulls teammates like Derrick Rose and his former coach Tom Thibodeau. After one season in Minnesota, Deng decided to retire from the NBA. He signed a special one-day contract with the Chicago Bulls so he could officially retire as a member of the team where he had his greatest success.

National Team Career

Deng became a British citizen in 2006 and was proud to represent the Great Britain national team. He played for the team in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He was the team's star player, averaging nearly 16 points per game. Deng holds both South Sudanese and British citizenship.

Life After Playing

After retiring as a player, Deng has worked to help basketball grow in his birth country of South Sudan. In 2019, he became the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation. He has also served as a coach for the South Sudan national team, helping them compete on the world stage. Many people have praised him for his work in developing the sport in South Sudan.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Deng is known for his work with charities. He has helped refugees and is a spokesperson for the World Food Programme. He has also been involved with Basketball Without Borders, an NBA program that holds camps for young players around the world.

For his services to basketball, Deng was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2021, a special honor in the United Kingdom. He has also invested in businesses and real estate since he started his NBA career.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

See also

In Spanish: Luol Deng para niños

• List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders
• List of European basketball players in the United States