By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Despite being born in South Sudanese territory, Luol Deng couldn’t represent his country on the International stage, as they gained official independence only in 2011.
The former Chicago Bulls player, therefore, played national-team basketball with Great Britain from 2007 to 2012, even participating in the Olympic Games in London where he shone with 15.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
In July, Luol Deng will come back to London for a game against Great Britain, but this time without the jersey on. Being the South Sudanese Basketball Federation’s President, he will show up for a friendly game set to be played on July 18, according to Hoopsfix.
This friendly game is set to be included in a series of appointments for several national teams, as South Sudan will also face a stacked Team USA on July 20. Steve Kerr’s team will also face World Cup champs Germany on July 22, with the o2 Arena being the stage.
South Sudan qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games after classifying as the best African national team in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in their first-ever participation in the competition. In Paris, they will play in Group C, facing Team USA, Serbia, and the winner of Puerto Rico’s FIBA OQT.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images / FIBA