BIO: Deng Deng was born in South Sudan.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Deng Deng made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 26 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.

Sydney entered the 2018-19 season with high expectations after securing several significant signings, including Andrew Bogut, who returned to Australia after a decorated 14-year NBA career that included winning a championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. The Kings became the first team to utilize the NBL’s new Next Stars program, signing highly touted prospect Brian Bowen, a McDonald’s All-American, who opted for the NBL route to prepare for the NBA Draft. Other key additions included Jerome Randle, David Wear (via Spain), Deng Deng (via Big V – McKinnon), Kyle Adnam, and Tom Wilson (both via Melbourne).

Deng Deng joined the Kings as a development player and appeared in 15 games during the 2018-19 season, averaging 1.4 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.1 assists in limited minutes off the bench. While his on-court opportunities were minimal, Deng brought energy and hustle whenever called upon. His athleticism and defensive versatility were key assets, allowing him to guard multiple positions and contribute as a rebounder in short bursts. Despite his limited role, Deng’s effort and intensity were invaluable during practice sessions, helping to maintain the team’s competitive edge.

Throughout the season, Deng’s primary contributions came in moments where the team needed fresh legs and defensive energy. His ability to step in and make an impact in brief stints demonstrated his readiness and commitment to his role. While not a focal point of the Kings’ rotation, Deng’s presence added depth to a squad filled with experienced and talented players.

The Kings concluded the regular season in third place with an 18-10 record, securing a playoff berth. However, their postseason run ended in the semifinals, where they were eliminated by Melbourne United. Although Deng saw limited minutes during the playoffs, his readiness and dedication were recognized by the coaching staff. His first season in the NBL showcased his potential as a high-energy player capable of filling various roles when needed, laying the foundation for his future development in the league.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
2020/21
In April 2020, the Illawarra Hawks faced a tumultuous start to the season, entering voluntary administration with creditors voting to liquidate the club one month later. The NBL, however, intervened to keep the Hawks alive, and by June 17, 2020, the league announced that a new ownership group led by Dorry Kordahi, Bryan Colangelo, and Michael Proctor had acquired the team license.

Under the new ownership, the team was rebranded as “The Hawks” in an effort to broaden its appeal across New South Wales. Shortly after, it was announced that six-time NBL championship-winning coach Brian Goorjian would take the helm, marking a significant shift for the organization. With all player contracts voided during the ownership transition, Sam Froling and Emmett Naar were the only players from the previous season’s roster to be re-signed, as the team sought to rebuild.

The revamped roster included Deng Adel, fresh off a stint with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, and Cam Bairstow, returning from a COVID-shortened season in Lithuania. Rising star Justinian Jessup, a Next Star signing on a two-year deal, joined the team, while imports Tyler Harvey and Justin Simon were brought in to lead the offense and defense, respectively. Despite these additions, longtime fan favorites AJ Ogilvy and Tim Coenraad were initially left off the roster but later rejoined as injury replacements due to significant injuries to Bairstow and Daniel Grida.

Off the court, the Hawks faced further drama as fans demanded the reinstatement of “Illawarra” to the team’s name. Following a public campaign led by the new ownership, the NBL announced the return of the Illawarra name in February 2021, just ahead of the team’s first home game. The name change, coupled with a promising 4-0 start to the season, reinvigorated the Hawks’ fan base.

Despite the bright start, the team faced challenges throughout the season. Bairstow was ruled out after nine games due to a hip injury, and Grida suffered a season-ending ACL rupture in the state league. Adel, who struggled to make an impact (5.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists), requested a mid-season release to avoid jeopardizing his NBA aspirations. These setbacks tested the depth of the Hawks’ roster, but the team found its rhythm in the latter part of the season.

From Round 16 onward, Illawarra won eight of their last 10 games, securing a third-place finish (20-16) and their first playoff berth since 2017. However, the Hawks struggled offensively, averaging a league-low 81.5 points per game by the season’s end. They also ranked last in field goal percentage (42.5%) and free throw shooting (69.4%). Tyler Harvey (20.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals) led the team offensively, while Justinian Jessup (13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals), Cam Bairstow (11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds), and Sam Froling (11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) provided valuable support.

In the semifinals, the Hawks faced defending champions Perth. During the regular season, Illawarra had managed only one win against the Wildcats, a two-point victory in Round 21. The Hawks opened the series with another close win, edging Perth by two points in Game 1. However, they dropped Games 2 and 3, each by eight points, ending their playoff run.

Deng Deng became a regular part of the Hawks’ rotation, appearing in all 39 games and averaging 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 15 minutes per game. His season also included a memorable incident with Perth’s Vic Law. During a heated exchange, Law leaned into Deng, who theatrically dropped to the floor in an attempt to draw a foul. The humorous moment resulted in technical fouls for both players and a $1,000 fine for Law after the incident was reviewed by the NBL tribunal.

Plenty happening in The Jungle ????
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– Watch #NBL22 live on @ESPNAusNZ + @kayosports ???? pic.twitter.com/aURlMOjRfb

— The NBL (@NBL) December 17, 2021

Despite falling short in the playoffs, the Hawks’ 2020/21 season marked a significant turnaround for the club, showcasing the resilience of the team and its players, including Deng, who made notable contributions during the year.

BRISBANE BULLETS
2021/22
Coming off a sixth-place finish last season, the Brisbane Bullets underwent significant changes ahead of the 2021/22 NBL campaign. Longtime head coach Andrej Lemanis departed after five years at the helm. Although assistant coach and former Bullets player CJ Bruton was considered for the role, Brisbane ultimately appointed former Sydney Kings assistant James Duncan as their new head coach.

The Bullets were forced to reshape their roster following the departures of several key players. Import Lamar Patterson returned, but Vic Law joined Perth, and BJ Johnson signed an NBA deal with Orlando, leaving Brisbane unable to retain him. Additionally, local bigs Matt Hodgson (to Perth), Harry Froling (to Illawarra), and development player Callum Dalton (to Melbourne) sought opportunities elsewhere. Brisbane re-signed Tyrell Harrison on a two-year deal and extended Jason Cadee for another two years while adding international talent to fill the gaps. New recruits included Chuanxing Liu (China), Jack Salt (New Zealand), Deng Deng (South Sudan), Next Star Tom Digbeu (France), and import Robert Franks (USA).

The season began with an overtime loss to the JackJumpers in Tasmania (74-83). While the defeat didn’t define the team’s season, it set the tone for Brisbane, as close losses to the league’s top teams became a recurring theme. By the halfway mark, the Bullets held a 5-9 record, hampered by injuries to Tyrell Harrison (elbow) and star guard Nathan Sobey (knee). The duo missed 11 and 16 games respectively, leaving Brisbane unable to find consistency in the second half of the season.

Robert Franks was the standout performer for the Bullets, averaging 18.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting an efficient 50% from the field and 76% from the free-throw line. He finished fifth in the league in scoring and was the leading vote-getter for the Leroy Loggins MVP Award (Club MVP). Patterson (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steals), Sobey (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), and Jason Cadee (10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists) were the only other players to average double figures in scoring.

James Duncan emphasized improved defense early in the season, and Brisbane initially showed promise on that end of the floor. However, the team’s defensive efforts proved inconsistent, and the Bullets finished the season as the league’s worst defensive team, conceding 89.3 points per game. Turnovers were another issue, with Brisbane averaging a league-high 14.6 per game.

Despite brief glimpses of potential under Duncan, Brisbane missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, finishing eighth with a 10-18 record. Deng Deng played in all 28 games, averaging 6.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
2022/23
After two consecutive seasons of reaching the NBL semifinals, the Illawarra Hawks faced a period of significant transition in the 2022/23 season. Head coach Brian Goorjian departed to join the Bay Area Dragons in the newly established East Asia Super League, leaving longtime assistant Jacob Jackomas to step into the head coach role. However, the team endured a mass exodus of talent following the coaching change, retaining only Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling from the previous season’s main rotation. Key losses included Duop Reath (to Lebanon), Justinian Jessup (to Spain), Antonius Cleveland (to Adelaide), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (to Melbourne), Harry Froling (to Brisbane), and the retirement of longtime Hawk AJ Ogilvy.

Illawarra filled the gaps in their roster with new additions, including locals Deng Deng (via Brisbane), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (via Perth), and Mangok Mathiang, who returned to professional basketball after recovering from a long-term injury. Imports Justin Robinson and George King rounded out the squad, but their integration into the team was quickly disrupted by injuries.

The Hawks split their opening games, losing to rivals Sydney (97–106) before defeating South East Melbourne (85–72) behind a strong performance from Tyler Harvey, who recorded 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. However, their season quickly unraveled as injuries mounted. Justin Robinson required surgery for a meniscus tear suffered in the season opener, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. Kevin White (via Perth) was brought in as a short-term injury replacement. Nine games later, Illawarra released George King (10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists) due to a persistent lower leg injury.

Former New Zealand guard Peyton Siva (9.3 points, 6.3 assists, and 1.6 steals) was signed to replace Robinson but managed only 11 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Adelaide. By mid-November, the Hawks had slid to a 1-9 record, relying heavily on Lachie Dent (4.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists), Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (4.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists), and injury replacement player Davo Hickey (4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals) to carry the load. Shortly after, former Perth Wildcats import Michael Frazier II was signed to bolster the roster.

In December, Illawarra snapped a nine-game losing streak with a victory over Melbourne (93-79), a game in which Sam Froling shone with 29 points, scoring 16 in the first quarter at 64% shooting from the field. Michael Frazier II (16 points) and Tyler Harvey (15 points) also made key contributions. Unfortunately, Frazier’s resurgence was short-lived as he suffered a broken arm against Adelaide, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. At the time of his injury, Frazier was the Hawks’ leading scorer, averaging 17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.

The Hawks registered another win in their third-to-last game of the season, defeating New Zealand in a dramatic 78–76 nail-biter. A last-minute steal and dunk by Tom Abercrombie briefly put the Breakers ahead, but Tyler Harvey sealed the victory with a clutch 25-point performance, including a game-winning three-pointer. Mangok Mathiang (15 points and 5 rebounds) also contributed significantly in one of the team’s few highlights of the season.

Illawarra finished with a 3-25 record, marking the worst season in the club’s history. Despite the team’s struggles, Tyler Harvey led the Hawks in scoring with averages of 18.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 steals. Sam Froling earned the Hawks’ MVP award with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, while Deng Deng delivered the best season of his career, averaging 8.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals across all 28 games. Deng’s standout performance came in a loss to Adelaide (80-90), where he recorded a season-high 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, showcasing his potential in an otherwise challenging season for Illawarra.

Deng Deng played four seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets and Illawarra Hawks. He averaged 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 114 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (823 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.