Going to birthplace won't be easy for Deng
Luol Deng is planning to visit his birthplace this summer for the first time in 17 years.
Deng hasn't seen Sudan since he was 5 years old and his family moved to Egypt to escape a civil war. He has no memories of his home country but is trying his best to provide humanitarian aid to the troubled Darfur region.
"I'll probably go for about a week or so, try to see what it's like," Deng said. "Maybe I'll go back again later in the summer. I'm trying to do a (basketball) clinic there."
One of Deng's toughest tasks is figuring out how he can begin to help in Sudan. He's supported efforts to provide mosquito netting that help prevent malaria and is trying to improve education in the region.
"It's so easy to trust one company and then the next day, they don't even exist," he said. "They just disappear."
Asked if he has to be careful where he goes in Sudan, Deng answered, "I think so. I don't think it's even a good idea to be in a crew. I want to be low-key. I don't want to bring a lot of attention.
"It depends on where you are. In the South, you'd be in a village, a lot of people have no idea (who you are). They're just minding their own business. In the North, it's more city."
Foul not given: The Bulls were outscored 40-18 at the foul line Friday and were perplexed by an offensive foul call on Larry Hughes with 20.9 seconds left and the Bulls trailing 107-106.
The Sixers had a foul to give and Hughes said he heard people on the visiting bench yelling at guard Louis Williams to take the foul. There was light contact at the foul-line area, and Hughes was called for an offensive foul.
"To get an offensive foul when they're trying to take a foul, it's tough," Hughes said. "I don't think I was overly aggressive in trying to get to the basket. I didn't even shoot the ball, because I heard them trying to take a foul. I didn't see it as an offensive foul."
"I thought that was a little unusual," agreed Bulls coach Jim Boylan.
No new hire: A story in Friday's New York Post stated that former Knicks community relations director Anucha Browne Sanders had an "exploratory conversation with the Bulls regarding an NBA return."
A jury awarded Sanders $11.6 million in her sexual harassment lawsuit against the Knicks and team president Isiah Thomas in October. She is now working as an associate athletic director at the University of Buffalo.
Bulls vice president of marketing Steve Schanwald said the team has great respect for Sanders, but no conversations have taken place regarding employment with the Bulls and there are no positions available.