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Luol Deng has turned South Sudan basketball into a challenging Olympic team

When Duke Blue Devils' Khaman Maluach - now one of South Sudan's headline names - first picked up a basketball in late 2019 at a Luol Deng Foundation camp in Kampala, Deng brothers Luol and Ajou did not immediately notice him among the scores of talents living in Uganda. It was around the time that former Duke and Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng was starting out as the president of the South Sudanese Basketball Federation (SSBF). He was elected in 2019 and set about continuing the work he had been doing with his foundation since 2005, only now on a much grander scale.

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How Former NBA Star Luol Deng Led South Sudan Basketball to the Paris Olympics

The world's newest nation is set to play in Paris this summer, thanks to a visionary two-time All-Star and refugee. Last September, as the celebration picked up steam inside a cramped South Sudanese locker room in Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Luol Deng paused to reflect on surrealness of it all. How Deng, a 15-season NBA veteran, had come to spend the last four years in a new role: president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation. How South Sudan, which won its independence in 2011, had even fielded a national team. How the country—his country, the world’s youngest country—had punched its ticket to the Olympics. “Honestly, I didn’t think we would get here this quickly,” says Deng. “It’s kind of insane.”

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Former NBA star Luol Deng has steered South Sudan’s basketball journey to Paris Olympics

Luol Deng was watching his vision coming into focus right in front of him. It was September 2023, barely six years since South Sudan had played in its first international basketball tournament. Yet there was Deng, a Sudanese native turned refugee and NBA star, hopping behind a circle of euphoric players inside the South Sudan locker room minutes after it defeated Angola during the FIBA World Cup to finish as Africa’s highest rank team and earn its first Olympic basketball berth. “Where we going?” Deng chanted repeatedly in a moment captured on social media. “Paris!” the team shouted back.

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Luol Deng relishes South Sudan Olympic chance

MIES (Switzerland) - The Bright Stars is the nickname of Olympic-bound South Sudan, a national team that has captured the imagination the past few years with a rapid rise in international basketball.But hoops legend Luol Deng revealed on Monday night at the Draw for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 another name that's probably going to stick."Literally, we call each other the Giants of the Nile," he said. "And finally, we can back that up by going to the Word Cup and going to the Olympics."

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Luol Deng: The heart and soul of South Sudan's success

MANILA (Philippines) - South Sudan have captured the hearts and minds of fans at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. But the sport’s youngest country would not be making their global debut without its heart and soul - Luol Deng. South Sudan made history on August 28 at the World Cup, beating China 89-69 for their first-ever win on the global stage.

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How South Sudan Built a World Cup Team From Scratch

When Luol Deng retired from a 15-year career in the NBA, he thought he wanted “to take a year, maybe two, to relax.” He realized soon enough that the plan didn’t suit him.

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Luol Deng on leading South Sudan to FIBA World Cup 2023: An exclusive on basketball, nation-building, and Paris 2024 goals

Former NBA star Deng, a London 2012 Olympian, tells the Olympics.com podcast how it feels to lead his homeland South Sudan to the 2023 FIBA World Cup as the president of their basketball federation. He believes their journey is more than just sport, and is targeting a Paris 2024 qualifying berth for the African nation.

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2023 FIBA World Cup: Can Luol Deng's South Sudan make history?

If South Sudan win any of the three qualifying games against Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, and hosts Egypt, their men's team will book their spot in this summer’s World Cup, jointly held in Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia.

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Luol Deng exclusive - 2023 FIBA World Cup: “It's not about basketball, it's about South Sudan”

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview for an upcoming episode of The Olympics.com Podcast, Deng spoke about the force of South Sudanese basketball, the qualities that make the men’s team competing at the World Cup so special, and how Paris 2024 fits into the picture.

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Behind former NBA forward Luol Deng’s coaching and charity, South Sudan basketball is on the rise

Along with Brooklyn Nets assistant Royal Ivey, the retired player has led the African nation to within one win of qualifying for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. As Luol Deng represented Great Britain during the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Games, he pondered what it would mean for his birth country of South Sudan to one day experience similar pride.

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From Basketball Africa League and beyond, Luol Deng's journey continues

It was at the 2012 NBA All-Star game at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida where Luol Deng went outside the NBA All-Star dress code to wear a black t-shirt adorned with a stylized outline of the continent of Africa. It was a monumental moment for Deng, a simple yet impactful way to honor where he came from and inspire the many kids that look up to him.

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How South Sudan basketball continues to stun Africa under Luol Deng

Just over two years after he ascended to the helm of South Sudan Basketball Federation, the impact he has created has been big and the performance of the team hugely satisfying.

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Luol Deng Foundation: Strengthening South Sudan Youth Through the Power of Sport

Our guest writer is Saree Mading, Chief of Staff for the Luol Deng Foundation, a MATTER Pro partner. The Foundation recently began a new initiative, the South Sudan Youth Camp Activity, to strengthen and develop the youth of South Sudan through the power of sport.

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Bulls Host Fireside Chat with Luol Deng and Lymari Media

On April 22, the Bulls hosted a fireside chat at Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery with Lymari Media and Bulls Legend Luol Deng, celebrating the launch of the graphic novel Queen Amani Renas: Protector of Nubia with students from Chicago Bulls College Prep and Urban Prep Academies.

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How NBA Star Luol Deng is fostering peace in South Sudan

On International Day of Sport for Development & Peace, we take a look at former refugee, Chicago Bulls icon and Olympian Luol Deng's inspirational story, and how he is making a positive impact in South Sudan.

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5th Annual Awards Ceremony

On March 5th 2022 LDF hosted it's 5th Annual Awards Ceremony at the Manute Bol Basketball Court located at the University of Juba in South Sudan. Youth were recognized and highlighted for their development and accomplishments while participating in the Luol Deng and Manute Bol Development Leagues and Her Time.

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Education

USAID Partners with LDF

In collaboration with USAID South Sudan, the Luol Deng Foundation is launching the South Sudan Youth Camp Activity, using basketball to strengthen social cohesion, develop life skills, and increase their resilience. All participants are from diverse communities and regions around South Sudan and range from age 13 to 29.

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Luol Deng awarded OBE in Queen's birthday honours list

Two-time NBA All-Star and former Great Britain international Luol Deng has seen his services to basketball recognised by an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

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