LUOL DENG: WORTH EVERY PENNY OF HIS NEW $70M+ CONTRACT

The Chicago Bulls have locked in their best player, Luol Deng, to a six-year contract reportedly worth between $70-80M. And Deng is worth every penny. Why? Aside from being a versatile player, he’s one of the NBA’s top humanitarians, right alongside Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Nash, Etan Thomas, and Juwan Howard. “Obviously we’re incredibly happy to get Luol signed,” general manager John Paxson said. “It’s the type of thing that gives him security and gives us the direction we’re going to go here in the future.”

Sudanese-born Deng’s direction was founded a long time ago when he met former NBA player Manute Bol. “I’m from a nation where my whole lifetime and the life before me have been struggling,” said Deng in USA Today when asked why it was important to give back to the community. “To be blessed and to do what I’m doing puts a smile on everybody’s face. It’s not just me that’s blessed. It’s all of us. The little things that Americans see every day, we don’t see that often. [Manute Bol’s] time was before me, so I just try to make things special for all the kids from Sudan instead of them hearing negative all the time.”

Earlier this year, I wrote a piece for Look to the Stars about Deng’s involvement with the Chicago Association for the Lost Boys of Sudan. On January 6, Deng joined the Chicago Association for the Lost Boys of Sudan to host the ‘Hope for Sudan Celebration’ at Truman College in Chicago. The celebration marked the third anniversary of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and doubled as the official birthday of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” refugees (immigration paperwork marks January 1 as the birthday of all Sudanese boys). “Playing in the NBA is a dream come true. Charity work is something that is a lot more powerful. I enjoy basketball, but giving back is something a lot of people can’t do.” Deng moved to Britain at the age of nine when his family fled civil war. He spent his formative years in the United Kingdom before moving to the States at aged 14 to play basketball on a scholarship. And today, Deng is once again living up to his words.

Deng spent this afternoon at an NBA JamVan press event in Trafalgar Square (London), spreading that Deng-love to all the kids in attendance. Deng is kicking it with Britain’s national team for the upcoming European Championships. His new contract makes him one of the highest paid British athletes and you can be sure that some of that cash is gonna find its way to one of the numerous charities he supports, including the Chicago Chapter of the Lost Boys of Sudan and the World Food Program who he is a spokesperson for. This mighty-mighty-fine man has also traveled to Africa, Asia and Europe with the NBA as part of their Basketball Without Borders Tour and is a staunch supporter of ninemillion.org.

Keep it up Luol…we need more good guys out there inspiring us both on, and off the court.

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As always, thanks for reading. Delinda Lombardo
delinda@athlebrities.com