The 27-year-old Chicago Bulls small forward proved one of the major attractions of the London 2012 Olympic basketball competition as he spearheaded the men's Team GB side that finished ninth at the Games.

But British Basketball was one of the big losers in UK Sport's Rio 2016 funding announcement that followed the Games as it saw its four-year funding of £8.6 million ($13.6 million/€10.6 million) in the lead-up London 2012 fall to zero funding for the next four years.

The announcement has drawn widespread fury from basketball supporters and Deng, a two-time NBA All-Star who is widely considered one of the best players on the planet, believes the cuts could destroy the London 2012 legacy of the sport.

"We all heard about the 'legacy' that London 2012 was going to bring to sport in the UK and I refuse to sit back and let that legacy be completely demolished for basketball," said Deng's letter to the Prime Minister.

"I, along with other people involved in the game, have put too much in and care too greatly to let this happen."


Deng was born is Sudan but fled the country with his family as a child to escape the Second Sudanese Civil War.

He moved to Egypt and then the United Kingdom before going to school in Croydon and beginning his basketball career at Brixton Basketball Club.

He officially became a British citizen in 2006 and said that basketball taught him important lessons growing up.

"The sport of basketball is a pathway, a pathway that teaches so many valuable lessons on and off the court," said Deng, the favourite player of United States President Barack Obama. 

"How are we supposed to motivate these kids to carry along their journey when there's now nothing at the end?

"No Team GB, no Olympic dream, no goal."

British Basketball's performance chairman, Roger Moreland, admitted it was a huge boost to get the high profile support of the NBA star.

"Luol's support for us is massively important," Moreland said.

"He recognises the value of funding, not just for the elite levels of sport but to carry on investing in grass roots and creating a route for young people to realise their dreams."

Deng's support comes as British Basketball prepares to take up its opportunity to make an informal representation to UK Sport where it will present its case for reconsideration of funding on Wednesday (January 30).

Depending on the outcome of this meeting, British Basketball will make a decision about lodging a formal appeal, which would be heard by the Sport Dispute Resolution Panel.

A campaign called "Fund British Basketball" has also been started, which Deng has already signed.

The petition can be found here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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