#TBT- Luol Deng, SF-PF, Miami Heat
@Hoover__26 February 4
Allow me to open this #TBT by saying, I love Luol Deng. He is easily one of my favorite players in the NBA, and possibly one of the most underrated. The 30 year old forward is one of the greatest players in Chicago Bulls history, ranking fourth on the team’s all time scoring list, sixth in all time VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) and fifth in steals, among other categories (basketball-reference.com). He is also included in many people’s “All-Time Chicago Bulls Lineup”, myself included. Not to mention the fact that he was the #2 ranked recruit out of high school, second only to LeBron James. However, this is a different time. He is no longer a Bull, having made a short stop in Cleveland before settling in Miami for the last season and a half. Deng started this season a little slow, which caused some people to think he is no longer the great player he once was. However he has caught fire recently, averaging 16.25 points, 6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1 steal and 1.8 three pointers over his last four games.
Luol Deng is the kind of player that is so valuable to a team for so many reasons. He was, and still is, one of the finest defenders in the league. He also is one of the most high character guys in professional sports, in an age where character seems to be at an all time low. Jimmy Butler credits Deng for helping him on his ascension to an All-Star level. He has also aided Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr in his recovery from back surgery (chicagotribune.com). Deng runs The Luol Deng Foundation, which “uses basketball as a tool to give hope to those in Africa, USA and the UK” (luoldeng.org). Head basketball coach at Blair Academy (where Deng went to high school), Coach Joe Mantegna, once said that Luol had a “one in a million mental makeup”.
Another thing that makes Deng so valuable is his ability to play multiple positions. He started his career as mostly a small forward, playing only 18% of his minutes at power forward and 1% at center in his rookie year. However, he played 42% of his Cleveland Cavs minutes at shooting guard in 2013-2014. He also played a career high 6% of his minutes at center last season for Miami. He currently plays a majority of his minutes at the 4 position (basketball-reference.com).
As far as fantasy goes, Deng is a very good play in pretty much every format. He doesn’t have any category that he severely lacks in (which I attribute in large part to Coach Mantegna and his assistants’ philosophy of coaching well-rounded players), which makes him a desirable roto league target. He is also a great daily play against favorable matchups, as @jagibbs_23 has outlined. He currently averages 21.5 espn.com fantasy points per game, and his ownership percentage has spiked considerably in recent days (I know he’s helped my fantasy team win some games). He is averaging 28.4 fantasy points in his last five games, and could be primed to maintain some of those numbers.
This week’s #TBT is a player who I feel doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. However, if he can continue to light up the court like he is, that may soon change.
Luol Deng is the kind of player that is so valuable to a team for so many reasons. He was, and still is, one of the finest defenders in the league. He also is one of the most high character guys in professional sports, in an age where character seems to be at an all time low. Jimmy Butler credits Deng for helping him on his ascension to an All-Star level. He has also aided Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr in his recovery from back surgery (chicagotribune.com). Deng runs The Luol Deng Foundation, which “uses basketball as a tool to give hope to those in Africa, USA and the UK” (luoldeng.org). Head basketball coach at Blair Academy (where Deng went to high school), Coach Joe Mantegna, once said that Luol had a “one in a million mental makeup”.
Another thing that makes Deng so valuable is his ability to play multiple positions. He started his career as mostly a small forward, playing only 18% of his minutes at power forward and 1% at center in his rookie year. However, he played 42% of his Cleveland Cavs minutes at shooting guard in 2013-2014. He also played a career high 6% of his minutes at center last season for Miami. He currently plays a majority of his minutes at the 4 position (basketball-reference.com).
As far as fantasy goes, Deng is a very good play in pretty much every format. He doesn’t have any category that he severely lacks in (which I attribute in large part to Coach Mantegna and his assistants’ philosophy of coaching well-rounded players), which makes him a desirable roto league target. He is also a great daily play against favorable matchups, as @jagibbs_23 has outlined. He currently averages 21.5 espn.com fantasy points per game, and his ownership percentage has spiked considerably in recent days (I know he’s helped my fantasy team win some games). He is averaging 28.4 fantasy points in his last five games, and could be primed to maintain some of those numbers.
This week’s #TBT is a player who I feel doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. However, if he can continue to light up the court like he is, that may soon change.