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8 Things You Didn’t Know About South Sudan’s Luol Deng

8 Things You Didn’t Know About South Sudan’s Luol Deng

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Luol Deng is known for his incredible abilities on the court in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the player from South Sudan makes Africans proud by representing the continent in the world’s top basketball platform as a Miami Heat player.

In an effort to learn more about the basketball star, here are 8 things you didn’t know about Luol Deng.

Sources: SportsNetworker.com, BornRich.com, Biography247.Blogspot.com, FamousBirthdays.com, LuolDeng.org.uk, BBC.com, Mirror.co.uk

This is an updated version of a slideshow that was originally published Dec. 31, 2014. Peter Pedroncelli contributed to this report.

Luol Deng
Luol Deng – sun-sentinel.com

Deng was involved in the first ever NBA game in Africa

Luol Deng was one of the players involved in first NBA Africa game, which was held in Johannesburg in August, 2015. The game, in which Team World defeated Team Africa 101-97, was the first of its kind on the African continent. The encounter was played to raise funds for South African charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, SOS Children’s Villages Association of South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

The305.com
The305.com

He is the 8th of 9 children

Deng has three brothers – Deng, Ajou, and Akuie – and five sisters – Arek, Akon, Abuk, Ayek, and Chier. One of his brothers, Deng, plays professional basketball in England, while Ajou played college basketball at Delaware University in the U.S.

ISportsWeb.com

Deng began playing for coaching legend Jimmy Rogers in London

In 1994, Deng’s family moved once again, this time to London, where he began to truly develop as a player under Coach Jimmy Rogers at Brixton. As he continued to improve, he was noticed by international scouts and offered a scholarship to Blair Academy in New Jersey, U.S.

BleacherReport.com
BleacherReport.com

He was approached to play soccer for England at the age of 13

As he was already representing England internationally at the under-15 level, it was quite rare that Deng was also approached about playing soccer for his country. He refused, choosing to focus on basketball, but remains an avid Arsenal fan.

ESPN.com
ESPN.com

Deng has become known for his humanitarian work

Deng has participated in a number of charities, including Basketball Without Borders, the World Food Programme, Pacific Garden Mission, and more. He also set up a foundation in partnership with Ninemillion.org, a U.N. refugee agency, in which he donates $50 for every basket he scores to help kids in South Sudan with food, education, and having a healthier life. He received several sportsmanship and humanitarian awards, including the 2006-2007 Golden Icon Award for Best Sports Role Model and the 2008 U.N. Refugee Agency’s Humanitarian of the Year Award.

NoseBleedSectionSports.com
NoseBleedSectionSports.com

He is featured on the new edition Brixton pound note

A local hero in his town of Brixton, England, Deng was chosen as one of four “Brixton heroes” to be featured on the local pound note in 2012, a currency used by independent shops and traders within the community. Deng said, “I am honored to be featured on the new Brixton pound notes…it is with great pleasure that I am helping to support the local community that played a vital part in getting where I am today.”

Source: SportsNetworker.com

FanSided.com
FanSided.com

Deng is Barack Obama’s favorite basketball player

According to “The Guardian,” U.S. President Barack Obama named Deng as his favorite basketball player. Indeed, Deng was the first sportsman to be invited to the White House under the Obama administration. “Yes, the president is a big basketball fan,” Deng said. “We went to the White House a couple of years ago and he told me he had been watching me since I played in college. I couldn’t believe the president of the U.S. was calling me ‘Lu’ and telling me I was his favorite player because of the way I play basketball but also how I act as a person. That meant a lot.”

Source: Mirror.co.uk

ThatsEnuff.com
ThatsEnuff.com

He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team despite a season-ending injury

During his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, Deng suffered a season-ending wrist injury late into the season. Despite this, he was still included in the NBA All-Rookie First Team, a testament to Deng’s crucial contributions to the Bulls line-up.