Luol Deng – tributes to retiring GB great
Tributes have been paid to Luol Deng after the Great Britain legend ended his NBA career back where it started in Chicago.
Deng has retired from basketball after signing a one-day contract with the Bulls, who he joined in 2004. He enjoyed 10 years in Chicago before spells at Miami Heat, LA Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Deng won 41 caps for Great Britain and played at the London 2012 Olympics.
“We’re very fortunate and humbled that Luol has chosen to retire as a Chicago Bull,” said owner Michael Reinsdorf.
Deng, hailed by many as the greatest player to wear the GB jersey, was born in South Sudan, raised in Egypt and then London as a refugee, before moving to the US as a teenager.
He played for England as a junior and gained British citizenship in 2006, making his GB debut against Georgia the following year.
He scored 891 points in his 41 appearances, playing in the EuroBasket finals in 2011 as well as London 2012.
The 34-year-old made 902 appearances during his 15-season NBA career and was a two-time NBA All-Star in 2012 and 2013.