National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran Luol Deng has retired from the league after signing a one-day contract with his former team, the Chicago Bulls.
Luol Deng, now 34 years old, announced his retirement after signing a symbolic one-day deal with the Chicago Bulls, where he started his NBA career in 2004 as the seventh overall pick in the draft.
He spent 10 years playing in Chicago before his stints with the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers, and previously the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also spent half a season with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2013-14 season after he was traded from the Bulls for Andew Bynum.
John Paxson, executive vice president of basketball operations for the Chicago Bulls, said: "From the moment we made Luol Deng the seventh overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls became a better team. We'll always remember his All-Star career and the fierce competitiveness he brought."
Deng will retire as the franchise's fourth leading scorer of all time with 10,286 points and in the top 10 of several offensive and defensive records. He led the Bulls in scoring int the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, which earned him a spot in the NBA All-Star team in both years.
His defensive tenacity also earned him a spot in the 2012 NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
Chicago Bulls owner Michael Reinsdorf said: "We're very fortunate and humbled that Luol has chosen to retire as a Chicago Bull."
The 6'9 forward was born in South Sudan, was raised in Egypt and grew up in London as a refugee before moving to the US as a teenager. As a junior, he played for the England team and in 2006, he earned his British citizenship.
He represented Great Britain in international basketball for several years, appearing in 43 games and scoring a total of 838 points. He also played in two EuroBasket finals and in the 2012 London Olympics.
