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Paris Olympics: South Sudan Basketball President Hits NBA Back

South Sudan Basketball Federation President Luol Deng, former NBA star

On Wednesday, South Sudan Basketball Federation president Luol Deng addressed the uninformed comments made about his team.

“I normally don’t pay attention to these type of comments,” Deng writes on Instagram (h/t Basketball On X), “but as an African, a leader in my community, and the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, I feel it is important to respond. This is for those who have asked about these comments, those who are offended by them, and everyone who has followed our story.”

“I’m not upset or angry at these ignorant remarks made by my former colleagues,” the 15-year NBA veteran continues. “I was more disappointed to see them coming from two individuals I’ve always respected.”

South Sudan Basketball President Luol Deng Hits NBA Back

Paul Pierce

Deng addresses the comments made by former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce first.

Now a middle-aged man at 46, Pierce’s youthful spirit is the source of his charisma. However, his hubris has been off-putting. Claims of being better than Dwyane Wade or that he pushed LeBron James’s career forward quickly lead to eye-rolling. The difference is that those comments aren’t deep or potentially hurtful.

When Pierce said that he’ll give Undisputed co-host Skip Bayless a 30-point spread in Team USA’s matchup versus South Sudan and that they “probably ain’t got nobody over (6-foot-3)” it obviously was intended as a joke.

Nonetheless, it displayed a level of ignorance, particularly as a Black man. Many Black Americans may feel disconnected from their distant cousins in Africa. After centuries of separation, there are certainly significant differences between the cultures. Still, solidarity with the African diaspora has been a part of the ongoing civil rights movement and many Black Americans are raised to lionize such ideologies.

As Deng says, “many Africans and Black people who embrace their African heritage are working hard to bring all Black people closer.”

“The comments made by Paul Pierce showed misinformation and a lack of research. However, he used it as a teachable moment to shed positivity once he was informed. Thank you to Paul Pierce for apologizing, that I can respect.

Growing up, I heard many similar comments, and those very remarks are some of the things that motivated me to change the narrative. Africans now show solidarity and support for each other more than ever. Moments like this are not for us to get upset and lash out. Many Africans and Black people who embrace their African heritage are working hard to bring all Black people closer by educating and sharing stories and historic moments, teaching that we have much more in common than differences.”

To his credit, Pierce apologized a couple of days later. “I’d like to offer an apology for the disrespect that I’ve given them not knowing their team or their country,” the Hall of Famer said on Undisputed.

Gilbert Arenas

Deng took much more of an issue with Gilbert Arenas’s incendiary comments.

Arenas’s xenophobia is clearly no schtick, with the 42-year-old speaking condescendingly about a number of foreign nations. The habitual line-stepper’s comments about South Sudan’s basketball team —and Africans in general —were particularly distasteful though.

After Team USA’s narrow exhibition win over South Sudan, Arenas insinuated that they “almost lost to some Africans… We almost lost to the Ahi-Ahi tribe.”

“This is crazy, man Embiid over there, throwing the game for his cousins and s***,” he chided childishly. Team USA center Joel Embiid is a native Cameroonian who moved to the United States when he was 16.

As an African-American speaking about an African nation and an African-American-dominated Team USA roster, Arenas’s comments were uneducated. Those type of derogatory remarks could also deeply affect the youth. Again, Deng is on point with his summation, saying: ”those who are easily misled may make comments that reflect self-hate more than pride.”

“As for Gilbert’s comments, they were certainly more disrespectful and cruel. Personally, I don’t care much. I would never trade places with anyone; being African is special.

However, for young African and African American kids who admire and listen to Gilbert, these comments can make you think less of yourself and make the rest of the world think less of Africans. Those who are easily misled may make comments that reflect self-hate more than pride. There is nothing about our history that we should run away from.”

“I actually want to thank both of them for giving us this platform to respond and inform others,” Deng says. “We’ve worked very hard in the last four years to be here… We can’t allow mere seconds to take that away. Instead, let’s appreciate the moment and use these comments as an opportunity to educate. Being loved is always better than being tolerated.”

With one final message, the former refugee turned national hero says “if we as a people realized the greatness from which we came we would be less likely to disrespect ourselves.”

Quenton S Albertie

Quenton S Albertie

Quenton Albertie, a native of Ft. Hood, TX, is a credentialed media member with work featured on SLAM Magazine, Sports Illustrated, USA TODAY and other major publications. Currently residing in Atlanta, GA, Albertie’s favorite teams are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Broncos.

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