From Miami Heat stars Dwayne Wade and LeBron James joking to Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard dancing, the NBA All-Star game is an opportunity for players to have fun while also raising money for charity. But Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng may be fined for his expression on Sunday. The Sudanese player, who moved from the Sudan to Great Britain at the age of seven, decided to wear a t-shirt with continent of Africa during the player's introduction ceremony instead of the regulation Eastern Conference team warm up. The 26-year old, who flew his family across seas to enjoy the moment, said he put a lot of thought into wearing the shirt to inspire young African kids.
"I wouldn't do something that's negative," Deng said. "I wouldn't do that at all. If you look at the T-shirt, it's not of anything. I'm not advertising anything. I just felt like being where I'm from and where I came from, it's something that I always wanted to see as a kid. Now that I'm I here I had a chance (to do that). I'm sure there's a kid out there, or a lot of kids, who really enjoyed it and made them happy to see that." Deng only played six minutes in the game after falling on his already-injured left wrist in the first quarter, but seemed to enjoy the experience with family and friends. The NBA has not made an official statement to the possible fine, but Deng does not seem to be worried about the outcome. "If I get fined, I'm OK. To me, what I did is worth it for me. For me to be selected meant a lot more to me. Being selected and recognized as an All-Star meant a lot more to me than what I was going to show or do tonight on the floor"
Will the NBA fine him for his "uniform violation," or will they likely let Deng's positive statement go unpunished?
