Deng on Duke

[ScreechTDX1847]

Cool little write up. Not too much insight but neat. Why did you leave after one year!!

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog/_/post/4799105/name/friedell

[Duvall]

Why did you leave after one year!!

2004-05 Chicago Bulls NBA $2,273,400
2005-06 Chicago Bulls NBA $2,443,920
2006-07 Chicago Bulls NBA $2,614,440
2007-08 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,320,339
2008-09 Chicago Bulls NBA $9,385,000
Career (may be incomplete) $20,037,099

[ScreechTDX1847]

I know, I know. But, another year and it could have been:

2004-05 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,273,400
2005-06 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,443,920
2006-07 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,614,440
2007-08 Chicago Bulls NBA $5,320,339
2008-09 Chicago Bulls NBA $11,385,000

...or not. ;)

[CrazyCat]

Being a Duke fan living in Chicago, I know it isn't the same as being in Cameron, but still can get a little mini fix at the UC watching our former players on the court with Da Bulls.

[cato]

I know, I know. But, another year and it could have been:

2004-05 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,273,400
2005-06 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,443,920
2006-07 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,614,440
2007-08 Chicago Bulls NBA $5,320,339
2008-09 Chicago Bulls NBA $11,385,000

...or not. ;)

Did you just take the years and salaries that Duvall posted above and bump the first number up a couple? Huh?

[ScreechTDX1847]

Did you just take the years and salaries that Duvall posted above and bump the first number up a couple? Huh?

Yep. I didn't take the time to actually see what the salaries are for draft picks, etc. In any event, you get the point.:p

[ice-9]

Love this part...


NF: Do you have a specific memory from school that you've kept with you this whole time?

LD: Yeah, in the [2004 NCAA] Tournament, the game against Xavier before we went to the Final [Four]. Just in the locker room, I broke down. I wanted to win so bad, because I just knew my parents would make the Final Four. It was their first time seeing me play, so I wanted to make it there bad. I remember everyone kind of getting up and saying we're going to do it. [I] just miss those kind of days.

[BD80]

I know, I know. But, another year and it could have been:

2004-05 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,273,400
2005-06 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,443,920
2006-07 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,614,440
2007-08 Chicago Bulls NBA $5,320,339
2008-09 Chicago Bulls NBA $11,385,000

...or not. ;)

Even using your "numbers," you miss the point:

2004-05 Duke Univ NCAA $Priceless
2005-06 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,273,400
2006-07 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,443,920
2007-08 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,614,440
2008-09 Chicago Bulls NBA $5,320,339
Total $15.6 Million or $5.4 million less than coming out a year earlier.

The key is he got paid an NBA salary instead of playing for free for a year, and he got to his second NBA contract a year earlier. In today's financial climate, I doubt he would be getting $2 mil MORE per year in his current contract if he had stayed at Duke. Even accepting your numbers, it would take Luol 3 more years (through 2011-2012) to gross more by staying at Duke an extra year, and that does not contemplate income he generated from investing over the SEVEN years a portion of the initial $3 million income in 2004-5, or the 3 years of investing a portion of the additional $4 million he received in 2008-9 for hitting his rookie contract a year earlier.

I won't fault him for his decision.

[ScreechTDX1847]

Even using your "numbers," you miss the point:

2004-05 Duke Univ NCAA $Priceless
2005-06 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,273,400
2006-07 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,443,920
2007-08 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,614,440
2008-09 Chicago Bulls NBA $5,320,339
Total $15.6 Million or $5.4 million less than coming out a year earlier.

The key is he got paid an NBA salary instead of playing for free for a year, and he got to his second NBA contract a year earlier. In today's financial climate, I doubt he would be getting $2 mil MORE per year in his current contract if he had stayed at Duke. Even accepting your numbers, it would take Luol 3 more years (through 2011-2012) to gross more by staying at Duke an extra year, and that does not contemplate income he generated from investing over the SEVEN years a portion of the initial $3 million income in 2004-5, or the 3 years of investing a portion of the additional $4 million he received in 2008-9 for hitting his rookie contract a year earlier.

I won't fault him for his decision.


Relax. It was completely in jest, man. I don't actually fault him or anyone for leaving early. I just wish I could have seen him play (for completely selfish reasons) a few more games in a Duke uni. :)

[BD80]

Relax. It was completely in jest, man. I don't actually fault him or anyone for leaving early. I just wish I could have seen him play (for completely selfish reasons) a few more games in a Duke uni. :)

Amen brother.

Sounds like my daydream of seeing Kyle doing a MasterCard commercial in a year and a half, to the effect of:

"Coming back to win back-to-back National Championships? Priceless."

[ScreechTDX1847]

Amen brother.

Sounds like my daydream of seeing Kyle doing a MasterCard commercial in a year and a half, to the effect of:

"Coming back to win back-to-back National Championships? Priceless."

HA! Nice.

[UrinalCake]

Even accepting your numbers, it would take Luol 3 more years (through 2011-2012) to gross more by staying at Duke an extra year...

I'm not quite understanding your math. You have to assume that in the second scenario, his rookie contract would expire after 2008-2009 and he would be eligible for a larger contract in 2009-2010. This contract would be for more than the $5.4 million, therefore he would actually be less than one year "behind" as compared to the first scenario.

But there are a lot of other factors too. If he had stayed he would have been the star on a team that made a deep run in the tourney. How would that have affected his endorsement money? On the other hand, what if he had a poor year and fell in the draft. Or what if he had gotten drafted by a different team that didn't give him as much playing time for whatever reason, so he never developed? These are things we'll just never know.

I do recall reading an article a few years back where he discussed how leaving Duke was a really, really hard decision that he struggled with. He enjoyed being at Duke, but ultimately being able to help support his family financially was enough of a pull for him to go.

[flyingdutchdevil]

I do recall reading an article a few years back where he discussed how leaving Duke was a really, really hard decision that he struggled with. He enjoyed being at Duke, but ultimately being able to help support his family financially was enough of a pull for him to go.

I was a freshman at the same time that Luol was a freshman. While I didn't know him personally, I was close to a bunch of guys who knew him well. This is true - Luol really struggled with the decision. In the end, he made a choice that was best for him and his family. He really wanted to stay at Duke and get a degree, but, like Carmelo, he bolted as his stock was so high. Who can blame him? Convincing a 19 year old whose family needs money to decline millions in salary and endorsements (Nike must be paying Luol a lot. I live in the UK and frequently see Luol Nike basketball posters) and stay another year(s) in college is unfair to the 19 year old. Most people at Duke, obviously, were disappointed that he left early. But none of them held it against Luol.

[91_92_01_10_15]

I was a freshman at the same time that Luol was a freshman. While I didn't know him personally, I was close to a bunch of guys who knew him well. This is true - Luol really struggled with the decision. In the end, he made a choice that was best for him and his family. He really wanted to stay at Duke and get a degree, but, like Carmelo, he bolted as his stock was so high. Who can blame him? Convincing a 19 year old whose family needs money to decline millions in salary and endorsements (Nike must be paying Luol a lot. I live in the UK and frequently see Luol Nike basketball posters) and stay another year(s) in college is unfair to the 19 year old. Most people at Duke, obviously, were disappointed that he left early. But none of them held it against Luol.

Yes, I believe this is right. In fact, IIRC, Luol's father was quoted at the time as saying something to the effect of: if it were up to Luol, he'd be staying at Duke.

[miramar]

I think Deng's decision surprised many people (apparently even the coaches) because we let ourselves be fooled by the hype, and somehow concluded that because of his personal history his priorities would be different and he would stay around for a while. In reality, I would say that it was just the opposite, and his personal history made the decision even easier.

The Kris Humphreys situation compounded the problem, so IIRC, by the next year the combined freshman and sophomore classes consisted of Demarcus Nelson. Deng was an outstanding young player and he was sorely missed.

[smvalkyries]

I think Luol had to sacrifice his own desires for his famiily- and after everything they had been through who could blame him. Unfortunately I think the bigget sacrifice Luol made was in his ability to marshall continuing Duke alumni support as a de facto ambassador for the Sudan. He would have received decades more attention and support had he stayed a couple more years at Duke. As deserving as Luol was a one and done just doesn't command the continuing support that a 3 or 4 year player does.