‘Ain’t no LeBron in this league’: NBL beware, Deng Adel’s not scared

There is only one Deng Adel. One Deng Adel out of the 24 players selected for the Boomers squad for the Tokyo Olympics. One Deng Adel out of that group currently playing in the NBL. One Deng Adel playing and developing under Illawarra Hawks and Boomers Head Coach Brian Goorjian. One Deng Adel, who’s ready to take on the world.

“I just want to get out there and whoever I have to play against, try and lock them down and try and get a win, there's not any real matchup, ain't no LeBron in this league, just looking forward to playing.”

Freshly turned 24, with a six foot seven frame and two seasons of NBA and G-League experience, Adel was something of a dream signing for the Hawks, who hoped the versatile swing-man could shine for the squad on both sides of the floor. And while there have been growing pains, such as Adel’s struggle with a lower leg injury during the pre-season, he has remained confident in his ability and his team's success.

“Just finding rhythm, playing in the flow of the game, not trying to interrupt too much or be too aggressive, but just trying to find that flow, figuring out who’s hot and who’s not and trying to find ways to provide for the team,” Adel said.

"Going out there and playing defence, running the rings, getting out in transition, and just making sure I keep working on my jumper and making open shots."

That's how we established our first couple of wins, it was going out there, locking up, and then just getting our swagger back, playing with a little more desperation and focusing on turning it around."

It's going to take a few more games but I'm starting to feel better on the offensive end of the floor,” said Adel.

And not a moment too soon. While Adel is usually an effective scorer - averaging 12.3 points on 44.7% shooting in the G-League - he’s had some tough games to start his NBL21 campaign, including going 0-15 in a forgettable outing against the Cairns Taipans.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Deng Adel&#39;s 0-from-15 FG vs Cairns today is the worst shooting without a make by any player in any game in NBL history.<br><br>Previous worst was 0-from-14 by three players:<br>A. Trahair in 1999<br>L.Copeland in 2004<br>A.Stewart in 2004<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL21</a> <a href="https://t.co/13I0aFg7W0">pic.twitter.com/13I0aFg7W0</a></p>&mdash; NBLfacts (@nblfacts) <a href="https://twitter.com/nblfacts/status/1363011331473899521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The national media has also not been shy to criticise Adel, who’s play at times has come under fire.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The keys ? to unlocking <a href="https://twitter.com/Foreverdeng?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foreverdeng</a>’s potential for the <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@illawarrahawks</a>...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBLOvertime?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBLOvertime</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/XgEt80Khlq">pic.twitter.com/XgEt80Khlq</a></p>&mdash; Liam Santamaria (@Liam_Santa) <a href="https://twitter.com/Liam_Santa/status/1367259801684639745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

However, he has also shown flashes of what makes him such a unique talent, both on the offensive and defensive ends. This was punctuated by a huge effort on Thursday against Adelaide where he amassed 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists on 66.7% shooting. Teammate Justinian Jessup praised his effort on both ends during the game, noting how it allowed the offense to open up and operate more freely.

“Coach was preaching defensive rebounds, and that was going to be a battle, I think especially in that last quarter (Deng Adel) and Justin really got some tough stops and some tough rebounds, you know, ones where they are just skying in and grabbing the ball, which gave us the opportunity to run,” Jessup said.

“Deng [Adel] was in a rhythm, especially in that last quarter, in those pick and rolls they were really trapping Tyler, he was able to find DA in the corner."

“He also got some transition opportunities and shots were falling for him tonight, it was really good to see,” Jessup said.

Coach Goorjian was also happy to see his marquee signing come to life, both for Adel’s sake and for the sake of the team.

“Adel hitting those shots was huge,” said Goorjian.

“We talked about getting to the rim, getting on the foul line and getting on the glass, if he does those things there won't be as much pressure on the shot.

“Really happy for him, and a real desperate situation for the team tonight, and there’s another one coming quick but you can't take those ones away,” said Goorjian.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shout out to Deng Adel who had a season high 19 points tonight including 13 in the fourth quarter ?<a href="https://twitter.com/Foreverdeng?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Foreverdeng</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL21?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL21</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBLCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBLCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/O1B2fu28Pc">pic.twitter.com/O1B2fu28Pc</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1367421151773827073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This success is in large part due to his mentality, which includes a ferociously competitive attitude and a desire to better himself at all possible moments. He also admits he has benefited greatly playing under Goorjian.

“With Goorj, he’s trying to simplify my game starting at the defensive end, making open shots, and just building that type of relationship has been good, I think I’m learning a lot from him and he's learning from me," Adel said.

As mentioned, Adel prides himself on his defence and that is something that has helped strengthen his chemistry with teammates - including import Justin Simon. Both Adel and Simon have shared starting duties at the three-spot this season, but they insist that it only brings them closer as teammates.

“Honestly, I think me and Justin are interchangeable, so we’re going to play roughly around the same minutes, it's just how coach wants to start it off. But I think just over the course just getting more comfortable out there, you know, getting used to the way things are called out here, just the flow of the game, it's a different brand of basketball so it's just about us figuring that out,” Adel said.

“We’re focusing on being in the passing lanes, I know for me and Justin picking the ball up at three-quarter court, and just bringing that spark to the game.”

This is a sentiment Simon agrees with.

“Me and him [Adel], our presence, picking up the ball, whoever it is that has that task to start it off. Just making sure we’re in the game, we’re going to make things happen, we’re going to make that guard uncomfortable and I think everything will trickle down once we come off and start with that presence,” said Simon.

Ultimately, Adel wants to see himself back in the NBA, a league which does have a LeBron. But for now, he has fully bought into the Hawks experience and is more than ready to win games as a team.

“I think honestly, we just need to step it up, we’re very versatile and can go out there and do that for the team, just have more of an impact on games and help the guys out, like Tyler (Harvey), Justinian (Jessup) just helping them out, because they’ve carried the offensive load the last couple of games, so just making sure we’re mentally locked in and being more productive out there,” Adel said.

Written by Jed Wells for Hawks Media.