International Career:

Luol represented England at U16 level in 2001 and 2002, scoring 50 points for England against Turkey in 2001 in the European Championship.  Five years later Deng made his senior GB debut in August 2007 against Georgia in Pau, France and has been the catalyst for GB’s meteoric rise up the international basketball world rankings since then.  In 2007 and 2008, he helped GB win promotion into Europe’s A Division and then played a key role as GB won their EuroBasket A Division qualifying group one year later. After missing the 2009 EuroBasket finals through injury, Luol lead GB qualification for the 2011 edition in Lithuania, where he was the tournament’s leading scorer. He notched an international career-best 38 points in a victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2010.

Year by Year Stats:

Club career:

Chicago Bulls, USA (2004- ), Duke University, USA (2003-4), Blair Academy HS, USA (1998-2003), Brixton Top Cats, UK (1994-1998)

Luol began his career in the English Basketball League with Brixton Top Cats before attending high school at Blair Academy in New Jersey. He then spent one season at Duke University, helping the team to the NCAA Final Four, before entering the 2004 NBA Draft. He was chosen seventh overall by the Phoenix Suns but was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls.

Named to the NBA’s All-Rookie Team in his first season, Deng also helped the Bulls return to the play-offs in his first three campaigns as his reputation grew steadily. In the summer of 2008, he signed a new six-year contract worth m (£47m). 

Personal:

Luol was born in what is now South Sudan where his father Aldo was a minister in the then government of Sudan. His family was forced into exile, arriving first in Egypt – where learnt to play basketball from ex-NBA player Manute Bol - and then in the UK where they were granted asylum. Growing up in south London, Luol played football and was offered trials for England Schoolboys before committing to basketball.

He has 13 siblings, three of which – Deng, Ajou and Arek – have also played basketball professionally. He has his own Foundation which targets youth projects in the UK, USA and Africa. In his spare time, Luol likes computer gaming and supporting Arsenal. First name is pronounced (Loo-AWL).

Trivia:

In 2011, Luol returned to South Sudan to witness its independence. His father was involved in drawing up the new country’s constitution.

Twitter:

@LuolDeng9

Website:

luoldengfoundation.org