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Remembering Luol Deng for his impact on and off the court
Throughout the off-season, the team at Bulls Confidential is going to reveal our picks for the top 25 best players in Chicago Bulls franchise history. We are measuring overall impact on the organization, community, and how they impacted their team. Follow along on Twitter by searching #BC25.
25. Mickey Johnson
24. Guy Rodgers
23. Orlando Woolridge
22. Charles Oakley
21. Taj Gibson
20. Bob Boozer
19. Elton Brand
18. Ben Gordon
17. Tom Boerwinkle
16. Reggie Theus
15. Toni Kukoc
14. Horace Grant
13. Kirk Hinrich
12. Joakim Noah
11. Chet Walker
10. Dennis Rodman
9. Luol Deng
Wise beyond his years. Tough as nails. Always composed. Always ready. The story of Luol Deng’s rise to become an NBA All-Star is as impressive and inspiring as any. Deng was born during trying times in Sudan, Africa in 1985. Amidst the Second Sudanese Civil War, he and his family fled to Alexandria, Egypt when Deng was a young child. He learned the game of basketball from former NBA center Manute Bol while living in there. Deng’s father was granted asylum in 1993 when the family moved to England and settled in Brixton, a district of South London.
Luol Deng was at times underrated during the prime of his career, but he’s always been a legend in Great Britain. So much so that when the Olympics came to London in 2012, Deng was actually featured on the local currency. He is very proud to say he’s from Brixton, and he means the world to basketball fans in England. Eventually, Deng’s basketball prowess expedited his move to the United States where he played at New Jersey’s Blair Academy. Scouts took notice. By his senior year, Deng was ranked by Rivals as the second-best high school player in America behind only LeBron James. Deng took his talents to Duke University where he averaged 15 points a game en route to a Final Four appearance. Duke lost in the semifinal to eventual national champion Ben Gordon and his Uconn Huskies.
Just months after they met in the NCAA Final Four, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon became teammates during the 2004 NBA Draft. Thanks to a draft-day trade the Bulls actually won, the Phoenix Suns sent Deng to Chicago in exchange for future picks and, you guessed it, cash. Even at age 19, Deng made an immediate impact on a young Chicago Bulls team. He averaged 11.7 points and 27.3 minutes a game in his first season, garnering All-Rookie First Team honors in the process. He has since built a reputation as one of the most durable players and top defenders in the league. Both seasons in which Deng was an All-Star, he led the NBA in minutes played. Perpetually guarding the best player on opposing teams, Deng had some of his finest moments as a Bull on the defensive end of the floor.
Deng always found ways to impact a game despite never averaging more than 19 points per contest during a season. He has always been the kind of teammate everyone should strive to be. He fit seamlessly along side Ben Gordon and eventually Derrick Rose. At times he carried the team on his back. He flourished under coach Tom Thibodeau despite claims that Deng played too many minutes. Thibs referred to Deng as the glue that held the team together. He couldn’t have been more accurate.
Unfortunately, one of Deng’s last memories of Chicago is a botched spinal tap. Deng claimed not to take the incident personally, but in any event, his departure from Chicago was handled very poorly by the Bulls. I’d honestly rather not talk about it. Instead, let’s talk about some of Luol Deng’s accomplishments off the court. Deng is involved with a plethora of charitable organizations. The Luol Deng Foundation, operated by Deng and his family, has been responsible for countless efforts from building basketball courts in Africa to personally running basketball camps and providing scholarships to children in England. Deng was heavily involved in local charities throughout Chicago while he was a Bull. He has been prominent in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders outreach. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra recently explained that Deng was his inspiration to go to Africa this summer.
The Bulls teams Deng was a part of didn’t achieve the same level of success as the championship teams, but he means just as much to this franchise as anyone. If watching Luol Deng play didn’t warm your heart, I might suggest you don’t have one. Heart and hustle. It’s how Deng morphed into an NBA All-Star. He made an immeasurable impact on the city during his time in Chicago. He’s been influential in growing the game of basketball. Take some time to reflect on Luol Deng’s days with the Bulls, you won’t regret it.
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