For NBA fans, the partnership of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James on the Miami Heat in the early 2010s was iconic. For many opponents, intimidating. Together, they made Miami a powerhouse, clinching back-to-back NBA championships in 2012, and 2013. Wade’s explosive drives and LeBron’s dominance both offensively and defensively became the Heat’s signature, and for players who had to face them, the experience was often grueling. But for Luol Deng, former Chicago Bulls player and teammate, Wade and James were more than a tough competition.

On a recent episode of the Knuckleheads podcast, Luol Deng, a former 2x NBA All-Star, was candid and came to terms with the fact that he had very strong feelings against the Heat, most specifically with Wade and James whilst with the Chicago Bulls. “It’s different, man. You know, before I came to the Heat, I hated the Heat because of D-Wade and LeBron. I hated it,” said Deng during the podcast.

In the span of 2010 and 2014, when the Heat and Bulls met 19 times, the Heat won out against the Windy City franchise 10 times. Deng’s frustration only grew as Wade’s stats continued to climb in that period. He topped the 20 per-game mark each time and his career high of 30.2 points per game in 2008-09. On the other hand, James scored the same amount as he averaged in the 2008-09 season because he averaged 30 points.

“You know, like I remember with Joe’s interview with you guys, it’s like LeBron, anytime we want to win, he’s there. Shut down the East for so long and Dwayne Wade, the same thing. So before I came to the Heat, I was actually worried about that. I was like, yo, I’ve been battling with these guys,” added Deng during the podcast.

The Bulls-Heat rivalry, however, wasn’t simply about the stats—it was about contrasting styles and personalities. Deng, the former NBA Sportsmanship Award winner was known for his resilience and played with a defensive-minded Bulls team under coach Tom Thibodeau.

“It’s what makes sense. Chicago means a lot to me. When you look back, just my career as a basketball player, coming here as a young kid — a young man I should say, 19 — it’s a lot of history here and I wanted it to end the right way. And the best way to do it is with familiar faces and with people who know me very well,” said Deng about Heat during an interview.

On the other hand, the Heat epitomized glamor, a star-studded type of winning under Erik Spoelstra. But when Deng joined the Heat for the 2014-2015 season, he was in for a big surprise.

Instead of finding the cutthroat, high-ego atmosphere he expected, Deng discovered a welcoming teammate in Wade. Far from the heated rivalry they’d once shared, Wade showed Deng a side that defied the narrative he had built up over the years.

“But once I signed, man, it’s, you know, Dwayne Wade is one of the best teammates, UD, the culture was just so dope in terms of, it’s a family atmosphere. It really reminded me a lot of Duke. It’s like a brotherhood where, you know, Spoel, Pat Riley, everybody, everyone in the organization is always checking on you,” added Deng during the podcast.

During Deng’s two seasons with Miami (2014-2016), he played well, averaging around 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Though his scoring contributions weren’t as high as they had been in Chicago, he played an important role for a team transitioning from the LeBron-Wade era. Deng’s time in Miami, though brief, was transformative in breaking down his long-standing resentment toward Wade and allowed him to appreciate Wade’s talents in a new light. However, even after hating Wade, Deng was recently praised by ‘the Flash’.

Dwyane Wade lauded Luol Deng for his measures

Former NBA star Luol Deng recently earned the deep respect of his one-time Miami Heat teammate, Dwyane Wade, after a heartwarming revelation about Deng’s commitment to his roots. Royal Ivey, the head coach of South Sudan, disclosed that Luol Deng had been privately funding the national basketball program for the past four years.

Deng has been a dedicated advocate for South Sudan, often using his platform to support initiatives that help the nation grow and stabilize. This gesture didn’t go unnoticed and Dwyane Wade publicly expressed his admiration for Deng, acknowledging the philanthropic efforts of the star towards South Sudan’s national basketball team. “The realest! Much respect my brother! We see you @LuolDeng9,” wrote Wade on his X.

Moreover, Luol Deng also serves as head of the South Sudan Basketball Federation. He personally covered the team’s expenses, which included gym rentals, hotel stays, aircraft tickets, and other logistics. His financial backing helped the team survive and progress and even helped them appear in the 2024 Olympics.  The revelation has strengthened the mutual admiration between these former teammates and highlighted Deng’s lasting impact on and off the court.