Former NBA Player Luol Deng Has Been Funding South Sudan for Four Years

What helps to develop a great, successful team? Talent and of course… MONEY. A well funded organization can usually produce a better product as well as results. The South Sudan basketball team seemed to burst onto the global scene out of nowhere thanks to an exhibition game against the United States; in which they narrowly lost 101-100. Turns out, the team has been getting support from a fellow countryman. Former NBA Player Luol Deng has been funding South Sudan for four years.

Doing it for the love of the game. Also for the people of South Sudan. All out of his very own pocket.

Some might not realize Deng’s net worth is quite extensive. For instance, the Los Angeles Lakers gave Luol a $72 million contract, with all 72M being guaranteed (the Lakers and Deng reached a buyout agreement on the final two years of the deal in 2018). However, what really made Deng’s net worth what it is, is his investments. Especially when it comes to real estate. You see, Deng has been investing in real estate almost since the time he entered the league in 2004 and has amassed a large portfolio, including hotels, resorts, condos, and apartment buildings, worth well over $100 million.

Forbes did a little investigating into Luol’s quiet, but noticeable moneymaking ways. They state,

“[Deng] started with investments in East Africa and London before putting his money to work in the U.S. in everything from spec houses in the Hamptons to multifamily units in Baltimore to the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and a luxury resort in the Bahamas under his company’s banner, D3N9, which is a play on his name and number of siblings.

Deng says he has leaned on mentors like real estate entrepreneur Don Peebles and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. He was good friends with Dimon’s daughter at Duke, and the banking titan was based in Chicago as CEO of Bank One and welcomed Deng to the city when he was drafted by the Bulls.

Deng’s main sounding board is former Wall Street banker David Gross, who serves as chief investment officer of D3N9, as well as CEO of the Confluent Group, an investment advisory.”

Well, now Luol Deng is investing into South Sudan basketball. And it is paying off. The team is right on par with some of the best players out there. And are not behind the rest of the world. As BN reports,

“The youngest country in the world, South Sudan took down Puerto Rico for their first-ever Olympic victory this weekend. The squad was down nearly the entire first half but used a remarkable final two quarters to hold Puerto Rico to just 25 points and claim the 90-79 victory.

Serving as President of the South Sudanese Basketball Federation, Luol Deng has opened up his own wallet to make sure the national team has access to what it needs.”

Former NBA Player Luol Deng Has Been Funding South Sudan for Four Years

That is wonderful to see. Since some may not be aware, but the South Sudan team has had to overcome numerous challenges. From travel logistics to even having a space to practice. Yes, we did say practice. How do you hone your skills if you have nowhere to hoop?

Well, Luol wants the team to not have to worry about such things. And for the last several years they have been able to just focus on being their best. Head coach Royal Ivey spoke to BasketNews on how Deng’s personal giving has helped the team. Ivey reveals,

“We don’t have the pleasure of having a gymnasium, dorms, and other facilities. We had a tough training camp in Rwanda, then traveled to Spain, moving around a lot, taking long flights, and giving up exit rows to my seven-footers. These are the things people don’t talk about. They don’t see us getting delayed for seven hours in the airport while we’re in Chad.

Luol Deng has been funding this thing for four years out of his own pocket. He pays for gyms, hotels, plane tickets—everything. Kudos to Luol and the staff. We wouldn’t have been able to put this team together without them.”

Amazing. All from the generosity of one man. At the 2024 Olympics, South Sudan has a real opportunity to stand on a podium. But they will have to get past Team USA. They two teams will battle it out on Wednesday at 3pm ET.

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