Aussie earns NBA tryout with Timberwolves
Australian swingman Deng Adel will get his shot at an NBA contract after signing a training camp deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Victorian-raised shooting guard/small forward impressed plenty of observers at University of Louisville last season and he won more admirers with a strong showing for the Houston Rockets at the NBA Summer League.
It has taken him some time to find a training camp place, but the undrafted free agent will have every chance to win a place on the Timberwolves roster as they lack some depth in his positions despite having All-Star calibre starters in guard Jimmy Butler and Canadian small forward Andrew Wiggins.
Deng didn’t get to play much early in summer league this year but was handed a chance midway through the tournament and did well.
He told NBL.com.au during the tournament that patience was essential when trying to earn minutes.
“That’s all I’ve been waiting for,” Deng said.
“You have to be patient and when your name is called you have to go out and perform.”
While Deng and Brooklyn exhibit 10 signing Mitch Creek head into training camp with non-guaranteed NBA contracts, one Aussie NBA player will move to Europe as former Charlotte Hornets two-way player Mangok Mathiang has signed with Italian club Vanoli Cremona.
Deng and Mathiang are good friends and were teammates at Louisville.
Another former Louisville star showed some love for Deng after reports surfaced about his deal with the Timberwolves, with Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell tweeting it was time for Deng to prove those who didn’t draft him wrong.
NBA training camps begin in early September.
Australians in the NBA (so far): Ben Simmons, Jonah Bolden (Philadelphia 76ers), Joe Ingles, Dante Exum (Utah Jazz), Matthew Dellavedova, Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks), Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs), Aron Baynes (Boston Celtics), Ryan Broekhoff (Dallas Mavericks), Mitch Creek (Brooklyn Nets), Deng Adel (Minnesota Timberwolves).