Deng ready to earn big contract

July 31, 2008
BY JOHN JACKSON Staff Reporter
Chicago Sun-Times

Now that he’s signed the biggest contract in Bulls history ($71 million guaranteed over six years) Luol Deng says he is focused on earning it — both on and off the court.

“This brings a lot of responsibilities, but I’m looking forward to it,” Deng said today at a news conference announcing the signing. “I take basketball very seriously. I look forward to [putting] the team on my shoulders and getting back to a new era, getting the team back to where we need to be.”

The deal clearly establishes Deng, 23, as a cornerstone for the Bulls — along with No. 1 pick Derrick Rose – for the next decade. He is one of the players who will be asked to set the tone as the team looks to rebound from a disappointing 33-win season last season.

“Obviously, we were incredibly happy that we were able to get Luol signed to a six-year deal,” Bulls general manager John Paxson said. “It gives him security and gives us certainty in the direction we’re going to go here in the future.

“Getting this done and getting him settled was a priority for us.”

It was a priority for Deng as well. He wanted a deal done before he leaves early next week for the European Championship qualifying tournament and now can enjoy the rest of the summer without the contract situation on his mind.

Having the deal done also will allow him to focus on some of his off-the-court work, something he told Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf during the first negotiating session in early July.

“I told Jerry how much it meant to me and that was something that meant a lot to him, too,” Deng said of his charity work. “I knew that he was excited about how I felt about that and when I walked out with [agent] Jason [Levien], I just said, ‘Hopefully, we can come to an agreement and I can make the world a better place.’

“That’s something that I look forward to.”

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