Luol Deng

Joey Ramirez

Growing the sport of basketball across the globe has been a passion of Luol Deng’s since he first entered the NBA in 2004.

The Lakers forward has been particularly involved in his native Africa and, for the second consecutive time, will serve as a captain at this year’s NBA Africa Game.

Born in South Sudan and having lived in Egypt, Deng will act as the leader of Team Africa alongside co-captain Thabo Sefolosha.

Tip-off will take place at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Aug. 5.

“I’m thrilled to be coming back to Johannesburg to lead Team Africa alongside Thabo,” Deng said in a statement. “The first NBA Africa Game in 2015 was a lot of fun, and it will be a privilege to play in front of our African fans once again.”

Deng was named the game’s co-MVP back in 2015 alongside Team World’s Chris Paul. Deng put up 20 points in Team Africa’s 101-97 loss.

Born in Wau, South Sudan, Deng has been involved with numerous charities aiming to give back to his home region. These include the Lost Boys project, which aided Sudanese orphans living in Chicago, and Deng Courts, which built basketball courts in remote areas of Africa.

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Deng to Serve as Captain at NBA Africa Game 2017

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EL SEGUNDO – Los Lakers han firmado al escolta Jordan Clarkson, el alero Luol Deng y el pivot Ivica Zubac, según anunció hoy el gerente general Mitch Kupchak. Por reglas del equipo, los términos de los contratos no fueron difundidos.

“Jordan es una pieza importante de nuestro joven núcleo, y renovarlo era una prioridad en nuestra temporada baja”, dijo Kupchak. “Él ha mostrado una tremenda ética de trabajo a lo largo de las últimas dos temporadas, y esperamos que continúe su desarrollo. Luol es un defensor versátil y talentoso ofensivamente, además de un individuo de gran carácter quien será un mentor invaluable para nuestros jóvenes jugadores dentro de la cancha y en el camerino. Ivica es un jugador que sentimos que tiene un futuro brillante en esta liga, y estamos emocionados de poder verlo crecer junto a nuestro grupo de jugadores jóvenes”.

Clarkson fue seleccionado al Primer Equipo de Novatos de la NBA en 2015 y llamado a participar en el Rising Stars Challenge del Juego de Estrellas de la NBA 2016. En dos temporadas con los Lakers, Clarkson promedió 14.0 puntos, 3.7 rebotes, 2.9 asistencias y 1.0 robos en 138 juegos (117 como titular), y terminó segundo en el equipo en goleo el año pasado, promediando 15.5 puntos por partido.

Adquirido desde los Washington Wizards en la noche del Draft de 2014, el jugador de 24 años anotó e dobles dígitos en 27 juegos consecutivos en 2015-16, y anotó 20 puntos o más en 20 ocasiones. Él lideró a los Lakers en anotaciones 16 veces la temporada pasada, e igualó la marca más alta de su carrera con una performance de 30 puntos el 3 de noviembre contra Denver.

Deng, un jugador dos veces elegido al Juego de Estrellas, miembro del Segundo Equipo Defensivo de la NBA en 2012, y miembro del Primer Equipo de Novatos en 2005, llega a los Lakers tras disputar 12 temporadas con Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers y Miami Heat. En 823 juegos (776 como titular), Deng ha promediado 15.5 puntos, 6.2 rebotes, 2.4 asistencias, y 1.0 robos en 35.3 minutos por noche, y ha ido a los playoffs en siete ocasiones. Tras disputar una temporada en Duke, Deng fue seleccionado No. 7 en el Draft de 2004.

Fuera de la cancha, el oriundo de Sudán del Sur fue honrado con el J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award en 2014, entregado al jugador que demostró excelente servicio y dedicación a la comunidad, y fue elegido en 2007 como el ganador del NBA Sportsmanship Award, seleccionado por sus colegas como el jugador que mejor representa los ideales de caballerosidad en la cancha.

Zubac (pronunciado I-vitsa ZU-batz) fue elegido por los Lakers con la selección No. 32 en el Draft 2016 de la NBA, uno de 26 jugadores internacionales en ser escogidos. El joven de 19 años jugó la Liga Adriática y la FIBA Euro Cup con Cibona Zagreb la temporada pasada antes de sumarse a Mega Leks, donde promedió 10.9 puntos y 5.1 rebotes y llegó a las semifinales de la Liga de Serbia.

Nacido en Mostar, Bosnia y Herzegovina, pero nacionalizado croata, el pivot de 7’1 de estatura ayudó a la Selección Sub-19 de Croacia a capturar la medalla plateada en el Campeonato Mundial de 2015, terminando tercero en el torneo en puntos (17.9), y séptimo en rebotes (7.9). Ese mismo verano, Zubac participó con la Selección Sub-18 de Croacia en el Campeonato Europeo 2015, liderando el torneo en rebotes (12.9), tapones (3.0), y dobles-dobles (seis), y terminando ocho en puntos (15.8).

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Lakers firman a Clarkson, Deng, y Zubac

The Lakers added a veteran leader to their stash of wings by signing two-time All-Star Luol Deng on Thursday.

The 31-year-old is coming off a strong postseason in Miami, where he served as the Heat’s third-leading scorer, second-leading rebounder and top 3-point shooter in the playoffs.

He put the NBA on notice during Game 1 of the opening round against Charlotte by scoring 31 points on 11-of-13 shooting, marking the highest-scoring playoff debut in franchise history.

Deng averaged 13.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in Miami’s 14-game run. He was particularly effective from the outside, and blistering on corner 3-pointers, as his 48.1 spot-up field goal percentage ranked second to only Klay Thompson’s 49.3.

On the other end, the natural small forward thrived while playing big minutes at power forward, as opponents shot just 40.1 percent when guarded by him — the playoffs’ seventh-best defensive field goal percentage.

"Luol is a versatile defender as well as offensively talented and is a high character individual who will be invaluable mentoring our young players on the court and in the locker room," General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement.

The regular season was quieter for the 12-year veteran, who averaged his fewest minutes (32.4) and points (12.3) since his rookie year. Nonetheless, Deng tallied 13 double-doubles and really got it going post-All-Star Break, when he bumped his numbers up to 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Despite his scorching playoff shooting, Deng is not known for his outside game. However, the 6-foot-9, 220-pound South Sudan native is tough to stop when heading toward the hoop, as his 61.6 percent shooting at the rim stood 6.1 percent higher than league average.

Deng was selected by Chicago with the seventh-overall pick in the 2004 Draft. His nine-plus years with the Bulls were highlighted by All-Star selections in 2012 and 2013. He also led the NBA in minutes played for both seasons.

Capable of guarding positions one through four, Deng twice ranked among the league’s top five in defensive win shares with Chicago before being traded to Cleveland for 40 games in 2013-14.

Since then, he has played his last two years in Miami.

Deng shares a collegiate background with his fellow Lakers small forward, Brandon Ingram. Like this year’s second-overall pick, Deng played for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, where he was named 2004 USBWA Freshman of the Year.

In addition to his on-floor contributions, Deng brings a wealth of experience to a young Lakers squad.

He has played in the postseason seven times and competed for Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics. Deng holds a sterling reputation in the locker room and out of the gym, as he won both the 2014 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and the 2007 NBA Sportsmanship Award.

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Latest Laker: Luol Deng

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EL SEGUNDO – The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Jordan Clarkson, forward Luol Deng, and center Ivica Zubac, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not released.

“Jordan is an important piece of our young core and resigning him was a priority of our offseason,” said Kupchak. “He has displayed a tremendous work ethic over the last two seasons, and we expect him to continue to develop. Luol is a versatile defender as well as offensively talented and is a high character individual who will be invaluable mentoring our young players on the court and in the locker room. Ivica is a player we feel has a bright future in this league and we are excited to see him grow alongside our group of young players.”

Clarkson was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in 2015 and was selected to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2016. In two seasons with the Lakers, Clarkson has averaged 14.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.0 steals over 138 games (117 starts), and finished second on the team in scoring last year, averaging 15.5 points per game.

Acquired from the Washington Wizards on the night of the 2014 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old scored double-figures in a career-best 27 consecutive games in 2015-16, and scored 20+ points on 20 occasions. He led the Lakers in scoring 16 times last season, and tied his career-high with a 30-point performance 11/3 vs. DEN.

A two-time NBA All-Star, 2012 NBA All-Defensive Second Team Selection, and member of the 2005 All-Rookie First Team, Deng comes to the Lakers after spending 12 seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat. In 823 games (776 starts), Deng has averaged 15.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steals in 35.3 minutes per game, and has made the playoffs seven times. After spending one season at Duke University, Deng was drafted seventh overall in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Off the court, the South Sudan native was honored with the NBA’s 2014 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, given to the player who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community, and was the 2007 winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award, selected by his peers as the player who best exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.

Zubac (pronounced EE-vits-uh ZOO-bahtz) was selected by the Lakers with the 32nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, one of a record-setting 26 international players drafted. The 19-year-old played in the Adriatic League and FIBA Euro Cup for Cibona Zagreb last season before joining Mega Leks, where he averaged 10.9 points and 5.1 rebounds as the team made the Serbian League semi-finals.

Born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, but a naturalized Croatian, the 7’1’’ center helped the Croatian U-19 team capture the silver medal at the 2015 World Championships, finishing third in the tournament in scoring with 17.9 points per game and seventh in rebounding (7.9). That same summer, he participated with the Croatian U-18 team at the 2015 European Championships, leading the tournament in rebounds per game (12.9), blocks (3.0), and double-doubles (six), and finished eighth in scoring (15.8).

Luol Deng

Deng to Serve as Captain at NBA Africa Game 2017

Lakers firman a Clarkson, Deng, y Zubac

Latest Laker: Luol Deng

Lakers Sign Clarkson, Deng, and Zubac