Luol Deng's Dynamic Summer and How Much It Could Mean to the Chicago Bulls

Luol Deng has had an amazing summer. A citizen of two countries, Great Britain and South Sudan, he's aided both, one on the court and one off. In both cases he's grown as a leader, and that can only have positive ramifications for the Chicago Bulls.

Deng's background is one of the more unique among NBA players. His father was the minister of transportation for Sudan who spent time as a political prisoner after a military coup. Eventually, he helped draw up the new constitution for the newly formed nation.

South Sudan was an oppressed region of Sudan before becoming an independent nation on July 9 of this year. Deng was there for the celebration. 

It's hard to imagine what the South Sudan went through during the Second Sudanese Civil War. An estimated two million people were killed, and 200,000 women and children were enslaved. Four million people were displaced, and most of those more than once.

Deng was among them, who along with his family moved first to Egypt and then to Great Britain. It's little wonder that he became one of the principle forces behind the "Lost Boys of Sudan."

The Lost Boys of Sudan website explains,

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"In 1987, civil war drove an estimated 20,000 young boys from their families and villages in south Sudan. Most just six or seven years old, they fled to Ethiopia to escape death or induction into slavery and the northern army.

"They walked more than a thousand miles, half of them dying before reaching a Kenyan refugee camp. The survivors of this tragic exodus became known as the Lost Boys of Sudan."

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The group has been described as the most traumatized children war children ever examined. Between Deng's own work and his father's contributions to the new nation, it is difficult to fathom what that kind of experience must have meant to him.

After 22 years, the war finally ended in 2005. Then, after a five-year wait, the South Sudanese were finally allowed to vote for independence and the vote passed by 98 percent.  

"It was something that I've been waiting for my whole life," admitted the Chicago Bulls forward. "A lot of lives have been lost, and they've finally got what they fought for. It was very emotional." 

Deng then followed up that experience with leading Great Britain to a better than expected performance during the Euroleague this summer, his personal performance being among the best of any players in the league. The Euroleague 2011 website has this to say about Deng:

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Luol Deng quite rightly enjoys an unrivalled iconic status within British Basketball, not only because of his exploits in the NBA but also because of the commitment, pride and passion he has shown for the National Team programme ever since pulling on the Great Britain vest...

Deng is not just the heartbeat of the team, he is the heart and soul of Great Britain both on and off the court. He leads the league in scoring with 24.6 points per game and has the second most rebounds, averaging 9.4. He has also shown a new propensity for getting to the line, averaging eight attempts per game.

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He is also in the top 20 in both steals and assists. He has been the primary ball handler for Great Britain, which is an encouraging sign. There have even been reports that his ball handling skills have shown significant improvement. (Notice how he keeps his head up in the video).  

This is only the second tournament for the team, who weren't expected to make it to the second round. They did, however, get a win over Poland. Deng led the team in every category, scoring 28 points, grabbing 14 boards, dishing six assists and swiping two steals. 

For the Bulls, the real thing that matters isn't so much the numbers though, it's the mentality. Between the experiences in leadership both on the court and off in the two nations it seems that Deng's confidence should take a significant step this summer. He's had the tools to be a star player, but has lacked the belief in himself. This summer is the type of thing that can give that to him. 

He is a seven-year veteran, but he is only 26 years old. He is at an age where he can really be a veteran voice and leader of the team. Scottie Pippen had a similar breakout at 25 and his best season came at 26. Deng might not have Pippen's ceiling, but he could have a similar step up in his play.

A more confident, more mature Deng could mean a more consistent, more dependable Deng. It could mean a player more willing to take the final shot, a player with a more confident dribble and a player with more leadership. All of that can only bode well for the Bulls who hope to improve on last season's Eastern Conference Finals performance.