It what is almost certainly a first for Duke basketball players, Luol Deng has been awarded with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s birthday honours list for his services to basketball.
Deng was recognized for his role in building up basketball in the United Kingdom:
Said Deng: “I’m truly honoured to be awarded with the Order of British Empire joining such a prestigious group of people."The 36-year-old remains an important part of growing basketball in Britain, hosting an annual summer camp for over a decade which became an elite top 50 camp in 2014, and establishing the Luol Deng Foundation as a charity based in South Croydon.
Following his retirement from the game in 2019, Deng was appointed President of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, and continues to have major impact on his home continent, having recently been revealed as an investor in NBA Africa.
As far as I can tell, he is only the second person to receive the award for contributions to basketball, after John Amaechi.
Congratulations, Sir Luol!