In January, Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose said about Luol Deng, “Lu is definitely going to make the All-Star team this year. If he don’t, that would be cheating man. It would be cheating for sure.” Rose proved to be correct as Luol was named yesterday to this year’s All-Star Game, set for Feb. 26 in Orlando.
On the year, Deng is averaging 16.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.5 APG and 1.2 SPG while shooting 43.9% from the floor. The Bulls lead the Eastern Conference with a 22-6 record and Chicago is 19-3 on the year in games in which Deng plays. The former Blue Devil ranks second on the Bulls in scoring, third in rebounds, fourth in assists and first in steals. The first British player ever named to the All-Star Game and the fourth among current Blue Devils in the NBA, Luol ranks fourth in the league in minutes played (38.0).
“If you value winning,” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, “you appreciate all the things that he does.”
Said Deng, “It’s a great honor. I’m really happy. It’s good to see. I don’t really have the words for it, except the fact that I’m really happy. I just want to go around and thank all my teammates because I believe by the way we’re playing and the record we have, that’s why I’m getting the opportunity.”
REACTION…
“I thought it would happen. The one thing about Lu, if you really look at his career each year he has been in the league he has gotten better and better. That’s a sign of how serious he is, how he approaches the game. He’s obviously a very well-rounded player. There isn’t anything he doesn’t do well. Obviously, he’s very significant for us in terms of us winning…. he’s invaluable. There are so many intangibles he brings to our team — unselfishness, hard work, caring about nothing but winning and how he can help. He’s a great teammate, very coachable and there’s nothing he doesn’t do well. He plays great defense, he moves without the ball, he shares the ball, he can hit threes, he can put it on the floor, he slashes, he can post. It’s his leadership, the way he approaches things every day, the example he sets, you can’t say enough about him.”
Tom Thibodeau
“Super happy [for him]. I told you I knew he was going to make it. I was telling him that and he didn’t believe me, but with the way he’s been playing this year, he’s been consistent for us. And he’s one of the leaders on the team. He’s been doing a great job with that.”
Derrick Rose
“We have one of the best records in the league and he is a huge, huge part of it.”
Bulls teammate Kyle Korver
Most All-Stars in the NBA
Duke: 4 (Boozer, Brand, Hill, Deng)
UCLA: 3 (Davis, Love, Westbrook)
UConn: 3 (Allen, Butler, Hamilton)
UNC: 3 (Carter, Jamison, Stackhouse)
Wake Forest: 3 (Duncan, Howard, Paul)
*All-Star Selections by Blue Devils in the NBA: Hill- 7, Boozer- 2, Brand- 2, Deng- 1)
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