LOS ANGELES >> Well-read and well-traveled Lakers veteran forward Luol Deng often refrains from speaking out on political issues for a specific reason.
“Once you get into that,” Deng said, “sometimes people don’t like your opinion.”
But with President Donald Trump issuing a temporary ban on non-American citizens entering the country from seven Muslim-majority countries, the South Sudanese refugee said he “felt like posting something” on his Twitter account on Monday to question a policy he called “tough.”
Deng elaborated in more than 140 characters following the Lakers’ win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday at Staples Center. That included Trump’s justification for banning those from Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen out of terrorism concerns.
“You’ve got to go into facts and what is true and what is not,” Deng said. “From what I understand, I haven’t seen a lot of refugees committing terrorist acts in this country.”
Deng was born in Wau, Sudan, which became part of an independent South Sudan in 2011. Because of that distinction, Deng is not affected by Trump’s recent executive order. In addition to having dual citizenship with South Sudan and Great Britain, Deng also has a green card issued in the United States.
“To really see a light at the end of the tunnel and to go towards that light and then that light is turned off is very difficult, not just individually, but for the family,” Deng said. “I know what it feels like to wait for that opportunity to come every day. My message out there was just to let everybody who is going through that to know I feel what they’re going through. Sometimes things happen that’s out of your control, and all you can do is pray and be positive for a change.”
After his father, Aldo Deng, served in the Sudanese parliament and as the nation’s Minister of Transportation, Luol Deng and his family fled the war-torn country to Egypt when he was 5. Although he said he’s “thankful for growing up in Egypt and I’ve learned a lot,” Deng said he and his family considered “everywhere was an option” to seek refuge.
Deng said he and his family “were very lucky” the United Kingdom granted them political asylum; he became a British citizen in 2006. Deng said the process toward gaining political asylum took five years before passing through multiple series of background checks. At age 14, Deng moved to the United States to attend Blair Academy, a prep school in Blairstown, New Jersey.
“It’s been great for me and my family,” Deng said. “I would have never had the opportunity that I have today if it wasn’t for that.”
Stating his case
The initial happiness stemmed from Nick Young unexpectedly remaining on the Lakers and thriving in a new role. Lately, Young has become excited about something else. He likes his chances to compete in the NBA’s 3-point shooting contest during NBA All-Star weekend on Feb. 18 in New Orleans.
“Start my campaign for me,” Young said.
He doesn’t really need one.
Young ranks fourth overall in 3-point field-goal percentage (42.4 percent) among players that have made at least 100 shots from behind the perimeter. He is 10th in 3-point field goals made (128) despite missing seven games this season with a strained calf muscle in his right leg. He also set a franchise record for making 36 three-pointers at a 56.3 percent clip through an eight-game span from Dec. 17 to Jan. 1.
“I’ll most definitely do it,” Young said. “I’d like to see how I match against those guys.”
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