Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Chicago Tribune - September 8, 2006
K.C. Johnson, kcjohnson@tribune.com
"They were talking to campers about keeping a positive attitude and work ethic," Lanier said by phone from South Africa.
"And they stressed you don't have to be a basketball player. You could be a doctor, a lawyer, whatever.
"Just to see the kids' faces, it was a beautiful message. It really resonated."
Lanier, Deng and Duhon are part of a contingent of about 40 players, former players, coaches and team officials who traveled to South Africa as part of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program.
The global outreach effort features a basketball clinic for 100 athletes from 28 countries across Africa, selected by the NBA and International Basketball Federation.
Daily seminars also include talks on education, leadership and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Trips to schools and hospitals are scheduled. And dedications of a new dining facility--funded by NBA players--and a new basketball court in Botswana also will occur.
Duhon's community service efforts have been well-chronicled, stemming from his relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina basically leveled his hometown of Slidell, La.
That Deng is on this trip is especially poignant given that he is a Dinka tribe member who spent the first four years of his life living in the civil-war-ravaged Sudan.
His father, Aldo, served as the country's minister of transportation but sent his family to Egypt for safety. Aldo eventually joined the family in London when the United Kingdom granted him political asylum in 1993.
"This is the first time I've been back [to Africa] since I was 9," Deng said by phone. "This is very moving and an emotional time for me. It means a lot for me to be here."
Lanier detailed how Deng and Duhon had brought Bulls gear to distribute to children, whom he described as "sponges." Deng didn't disagree.
"A lot of these kids are very motivated, but they don't see themselves going anywhere," Deng said. "I'm just basically telling them to keep believing in their dreams and keep working hard. Us being here and relating to them might help motivate them. You never know."
This has been a busy summer of world travel for Bulls players. Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni recently left Japan after representing Team USA and Argentina, respectively, in the World Basketball Championships.
Deng returns to Chicago on Tuesday and said he hopes to work out at the Berto Center next week. Duhon will travel with Dikembe Mutombo to Gaborone, Botswana, after the Johannesburg clinic ends.
"These are lifetime experiences," Deng said.
Of course, even being 8,700 miles away, Deng's mind isn't far from the upcoming season.
"You can see how excited the city is," Deng said. "We have a lot of expectations now, and we have to live up to them. This is my third year, Kirk's fourth year. It's time. Plus, with Ben [Wallace] coming and veteran guys like P.J. [Brown] and [Adrian] Griffin, we're older and more mature."
Deng, 21, said he's gaining maturity just by what he's witnessing in South Africa.
"You realize how lucky we are," he said. "There are people here who are very talented and very motivated but don't have a lot of opportunities. It makes you look at things in a different perspective."
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