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

Luol Deng never explicitly says what it means to him that South Sudan’s Black Stars will tread new ground at the men's 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup but the pride in his voice, when he underlines the extent of the team’s achievement, speaks volumes.

“In three years we went 11-1 for the World Cup, which is the best record by any African team,” Deng told The Olympics.com Podcast for an episode launching on Wednesday 23 August.

“We’re the first team ever to make it to the World Cup on their first try. No one just comes and says, 'I'm going to try for the World Cup,' and they happen to make it.

"We're the first team in the history of basketball to make the World Cup, I believe, without an indoor court in their country.

“There's a lot that I could say to it,” the President of the South Sudan Basketball Federation admitted. “But it's also exciting because it allows us to show the potential of South Sudan.”

How Deng, a two-time NBA All-Star player**,** ended up masterminding the country's debut appearance at the World Cup is a story that has its origin in his beginnings.

Born in Wau, South Sudan, in 1985, Deng and his eight siblings fled the country to Egypt shortly before his father, Aldo Deng, a Sudanese government official, was reportedly jailed following a coup in the country.

After three months in prison, Deng’s father was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom and sometime after, the family was able to join him. While living in London, Deng was spotted by an American basketball scout who offered the then 14-year-old a scholarship to an academy in New Jersey.

The move springboarded him to the NBA, where he was selected as the seventh overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, amd went on to play for the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LA Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, in addition to representing Great Britain internationally including the London 2012 Olympics. But even as he forged a new life outside Africa, Deng never let South Sudan leave him.

Having grown up in countries a world away from his homeland, Deng only learnt about the South Sudanese culture and traditions through his family members. Home was always painted as a positive place and somewhere they would all eventually return to.

“We always lived our life prepared that one day we'll go back,” Deng explained. “I think that's why I always believe in giving back and knowing that there's a lot of people that you know back home that need everything that we're providing.”

When, after retiring, the opportunity arose for Deng to take on the Presidency of South Sudan Basketball the former NBA player didn’t hesitate to embrace the opportunity, instantly picturing what might be possible.

AfroBasket and the World Cup, all once dreams of Deng's, came into view, with the Olympic Games now even a possibility for the team ranked 62nd in the world.

"With anything that you do, to take it from A to B is a huge step," Deng said about the team making the World Cup: "It speaks a lot about our players, about our talent, about our coaches, about how hard the people in our office worked."

Luol Deng: “We have guys that have been hungry for this”

When the Bright Stars get their first World Cup campaign underway on 26 August, Deng said audiences can expect something special from the side.

“We play hard. We really play hard. We believe in each other. We play as a team,” the former NBA player said, sharing the qualities entrenched in the players.

“We know that the World Cup is not going to be easy. It's our first one, but we know that we have guys that have been hungry for this and they're going to play hard.

“Guys like our captain Kuany [Ngor] Kuany, who's everything that we stand for in terms of professionalism, putting the country first, putting his teammates first. This is a guy that fled as a refugee to Australia, came back, and played.

“We also have guys like Nuni Omot, and Nuni just won the MVP in BAL (Basketball Africa League). And he's such a unique player that for me, I really believe that he's a pro. He's probably our best scorer, but what's unique about him is Nuni was born outside of South Sudan because of the war, but he's always felt connected to South Sudan.

“There's a lot of teams that we'll be playing that will have a lot of coaches and staff and players that are returning and that always helps. That's an advantage. But for us, we've made it. We want to go out there and compete and then try to win every game that we play, just like we have been, but leave it all out there.”

Can South Sudan make it to Paris 2024?

South Sudan, packed to the brim with heart and drive, will need every single drop of effort as they try to make a dent in their debut FIBA World Cup.

Sitting in Group B for the tournament alongside Serbia, People’s Republic of China, and Puerto Rico, none of their opening games will be easy.

“I think in that group we're the least favourite,” Deng conceded, looking ahead at what is to come.

“You have Serbia, who's been there many times and have won it. You have Puerto Rico, [who] have so many professional players, and you have China that goes every time. I even played China in the Olympics and they're always good and they always play hard.

“We're coming in to play hard and play basketball, but the respect for all these teams is there, you know. I know guys in Puerto Rico, the team and I know how good they are. China the same thing, and you know Serbia, everybody knows.”

The fact that berths for the Paris 2024 Olympics are on offer at this FIBA World Cup is also something Deng said is on his mind.

With the top finishing team from Africa set to earn an automatic quota spot for the upcoming Games, South Sudan along with Angola, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, and Egypt, will be playing for more than just World Cup glory.

Deng knows how special the Games are as an experience before anything else, having represented Team GB at London 2012, but says they aren’t the primary focus for the Bright Stars.

“I'm trying my hardest and so are the coaches and the players to just focus on one game at a time,” Deng said.

“I know it's easy to say this. It's in the back of my mind, don't get me wrong. But the more you shift your energy and your focus to the team and the task ahead of you the better you will do. If you skip you’ll be surprised,” he continued before adding, “You never accomplish any dreams by just thinking.”

South Sudan: Relishing Basketball World Cup stage

Fully aware that the narrative around the world’s youngest democracy obtaining a spot at the Olympics will garner momentum as the FIBA World Cup progresses, Deng said the team surrounding the players are going to shut out the noise.

“We’ve got to lock in and not let people pull us away from it. People will sweet-talk you. People will say, you know, 'the Olympics is here,' this and that. And then all of a sudden you become the team that disappointed everyone. So, our main mission is really the World Cup,” he confirmed resolutely.

Whatever destiny does await South Sudan in Manila, few can deny the impact their journey so far has been on the country and on global basketball as a whole.

But for Deng, the best part of what his team has already achieved is in the emotions it has evoked in the South Sudanese people.

“It makes me so happy now that everyone is excited about the World Cup. For a long time, we've been a nation where the World Cup is happening, whether it's football, basketball or whatever it is, the Olympics is happening, and we're occupied with other things. Now we're having conversations where we're sitting at the same table as all the other 32 teams.

“And whenever that conversation comes up, no matter where you are in the world and someone says ‘World Cup’ South Sudanese just jump in and start talking with pride about their team. We haven't had that. It's amazing to see and exciting.”