After xenophobic comments controversy, Gilbert Arenas praises Luol Deng for funding South Sudan team

South Sudan have defied the odds to create history at the Paris Olympics 2024.

After xenophobic comments controversy, Gilbert Arenas praises Luol Deng for funding South Sudan team

After xenophobic comments controversy, Gilbert Arenas praises Luol Deng for funding South Sudan team creating history at Paris Olympics 2024

South Sudan, the youngest country in the world made history at the Paris Olympics 2024. They became the first African nation to win a basketball game in Olympic history. A remarkable feat considering that they do not have an indoor court in their country and have assembled a team in a few years. All due to former NBA All-Star Luol Deng‘s contributions. Gilbert Arenas chimed in on this, just a few days after he passed out controversial xenophobic comments.

After the victory, Bleacher Report posted a story on their official Instagram page talking about Deng investing his personal funds into the South Sudan Basketball program for the past four years. Seeing this, Gilbert Arenas posted a reel tagging Luol Deng and added fire emoticons alongside. That is praise towards his former compatriot’s work with his national team.

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It seems he did not understand the depth of what Deng and South Sudan have achieved so far. That ignorance led him to pass those xenophobic comments when they almost won against a star-studded Team USA.

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Especially, after their win against Puerto Rico, it is clear they are not to be taken lightly. Luol Deng has invested his own money to ensure that the players are motivated enough to fight for wins. Now with one win in their bag, they could continue to create history at the Paris Olympics 2024.

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Luol Deng’s South Sudan could make the Olympics knockout stages

When South Sudan, a team comprising a few former NBA players, came within a point to cause embarrassment for Team USA, they showed that they could win. Their team comprises length, athleticism, and the ability to shoot the ball from any location.

Now with one win in the bag and that too with a double-digit win, they are 2nd in Group C. Serbia, lost by 26 points. That itself puts Serbia at the bottom of the group. In FIBA, points differentials influence final seeding. That means, if SSD can avoid a drubbing at the hands of the Americans, they have a legitimate chance. Even if Serbia blows out Puerto Rico, they will only climb to 3rd in the group.

At the end of the group stage, it could be that South Sudan become the first African nation to reach the knockout rounds of an Olympic basketball tournament. Luol Deng’s investment in his country’s future will pay dividends.

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