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Luol Deng trolls Chicago Bulls medical staff for basically breaking him

By Josh Hill

Dec 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) takes a breather during the second half against Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Arena. The 76ers won 91-87. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Luol Deng (9) takes a breather during the second half against Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Arena. The 76ers won 91-87. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Miami Heat forward Luol Deng isn’t too fond of his days with the Chicago Bulls’ medical staff, and it’s something he hasn’t let go of even to this day. 

When the Chicago Bulls traded Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers in January 2014, it was a bittersweet moment for the forward. On one hand, he had broke his back carrying the team for so long, and had been with them through the thick and thin for nearly a decade.

On the other hand, he almost literally did break his back thanks to the shoddy medical treatment he received during his final years with the Bulls. That’s treatment Deng hasn’t forgotten about and it’s the reason he back handedly trolled the Bulls this week.

Deng spoke to Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post, and in so many words noted that the Miami Heat medical staff is much better than the one in Chicago that basically broke him.

"“I love this organization,” said Deng, who turns 30 on Thursday. “It’s been top-class and everything. I’ve had one of my healthiest years. It was never anything serious. I’ve felt great about the medical staff. When you’ve been in the league 11 years, as soon as you start putting mileage on your body, you want a group that knows your body and you’re comfortable with them. The organization has been great.”"

Time for context children, so gather around.

Back in 2013, the Chicago Bulls nearly got bounced out of the postseason by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round and a lot of that had to do with Deng being bedridden at a hospital with an illness. The information on Deng wasn’t really all that honest as reports at the time stated he was suffering from migraines — which made it sound like his absence was his fault.

In reality, the Bulls were basically running medial experiments on Deng and forcing him to return when he wouldn’t get better. This was noted by his agent when it came time to reject — not negotiate — the Chicago Bulls contract extension offer that offseason.

"We never negotiated,” Rudoy said Friday. “We had several meetings. One was to discuss the medical care he got, or did not get, after his spinal tap [in May], which was of great concern to him.”"

What the Bulls did to Luol Deng was give him a spinal tap — which in of itself is painful. This particular spinal tap was made more painful due to the fact that the Bulls royally f-cked it all up and pretty much almost killed their starting forward. TO boot, the team washed their hands of the incident and proceeded to lowball Deng in the offseason on a contract offer.

The ensuing dispute eventually led to Deng being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 and then signing with the Miami Heat that summer.

It was the spoiling of what could have continued to be a special relationship. Before there was Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, Tom Thibodeau — or the hope of winning — there was Luol Deng carrying the Chicago Bulls. He killed himself trying to make the Bulls a contender, but little did he know all he had to do for that was visit the medical staff.

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