GBR - Luol Deng's view on future

Manchester (Olympics) - Since Luol Deng first played for Great Britain in 2006 he has easily become recognizable as the team leading-scorer, and has openly declared his determination to support the most needed.

Deng, a native of South-Sudan had just been granted British citizenship that same year, and he didn't waste any time making a positive difference, helping his team winning four out of six games.

Professionally, Deng enjoys a successful career with the NBA based Chicago Bulls team and early this year he was selected for the All-Star Game. He has never turned his back on team GB nor to his native country, and has become a 2012 London Games Ambassador

As the clock ticks fast for the London Games, FIBA.com caught up with the 27-year-old to discuss about his impressions, commitments and vision of basketball for both Africa and Britain.

FIBA: What are your thoughts on three African teams playing at the Olympics?
Deng: I am proud of them, and I am proud to see that basketball is moving in the right direction in Africa. We got a lot of talented kids there. The more things that happen (African teams qualifying), the more they will be involved, the more they will be engaged, and hopefully we will move forward from there.

FIBA: Tell me about the impact of NBA African players to African kids.
Deng: We play a very important role for those kids. As an African player I've always tried to show how proud I am from where I came from. Just let them know that I came from the same place that our culture is the same, and that they they could be in the same place also.

FIBA: Many young African players can't wait to take part in basketball clinics, the Basketball Without Borders has become widely popular among them.
Deng: Me and Amadou (Fall) have a few countries to do clinics, later in the summer, and I am looking forward to them after the Olympics.

FIBA: Your native country South Sudan has a few players at USA colleges. Do you have any basketball projects for youth there?
Deng: Basketball is growing in South Sudan. Now that we are a separate country, it is really easy to focus and I am trying to develop things there. I have a vision of what I want to do there. My vision is huge. My vision is for the whole of Africa. I know I am busy with basketball right now, but eventually I want to build a sports academy, where I could, instead of basketball, go and recruit kids to go to school. I want to open up schools, being able to give scholarships. Hopefully teaching those kids about America's education, and when they go over and study the SAT it makes it a lot easier for them.

FIBA: You will be playing your first Olympic Games at your home town of London, where you grew up. How are you feeling about it?
Deng: I am excited. All This was not here six years ago, or even when I first came to England. It shows that all the hard work and positive things are happening. There are lots of African kids living here also, and there are lots of kids in the UK who want to get to the NBA. Whatever we are doing here will make them believe in it.

Team GB played in July six warm-up games against Spain, Portugal (twice), USA, Tunisia and Belgium. Deng averaged 18 points in the four games he played.

Team GB big challenge comes on 29 July when they first group B opponents Russia. Later in the tournament they will take on Brazil, Spain, Australia and China. 

FIBA