Former NBA Star Luol Deng Gets Honest About Failed Lakers Tenure

Luol Deng spoke about his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ben Stinar | 11 Hours Ago

Sep 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Luol Deng (9) is interviewed by reporters at media day at Toyota Sports Center.. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Luol Deng was once among the best forwards in the NBA during his 10-year run with the Chicago Bulls.

At the end of his career, Deng signed a big contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, he appeared in just 57 games with the franchise over two seasons.

Feb 14, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Luol Deng (9) shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings during a NBA basketball game at Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Lakers 97-96. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Recently, Deng appeared on Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson & Darius Miles.

He spoke about his failed tenure with Los Angeles.

Deng: "My conversation with going to LA was to go there to hoop... I took the chance and I took the money, but I never knew exactly what the plan was. Or what the plan was, was not what I was told. That kind of changed how I looked at the league, my love for the game and so on. I was getting all this money, but it didn't feel right... I wanted to play."

Deng averaged 7.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest while shooting 38.7% from the field and 30.9% from the three-point range over two seasons with the Lakers.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski on September 1, 2018: "ESPN reporting with @ramonashelburne: In buyout with Lakers, Luol Deng walked away from $7.5M on the $36.8M left on his contract. With waive and stretch provision, Lakers have cleared $38M in salary cap space in 2019 free agency."

ESPN reporting with @ramonashelburne: In buyout with Lakers, Luol Deng walked away from $7.5M on the $36.8M left on his contract. With waive and stretch provision, Lakers have cleared $38M in salary cap space in 2019 free agency.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 1, 2018