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Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng injured his left shoulder during Friday night's 110-106 win over the New York Knicks and will be re-evaluated Saturday. Deng, who scored a team-high 29 points, got tangled up with Knicks guard Jason Kidd midway through the third quarter and felt pain shoot up his arm. He had a large ice pack on the shoulder immediately after the game and said it was still sore. "We're going to check again [Saturday], but I don't know exactly what it is," Deng said. "Something with the ligament there, I don't know if I sprained or ... we'll see. It's almost like a pulled muscle. I never had anything like this, but it just feels like a pulled muscle or a sprained tendon. I really don't know." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries 

Deng wasn't sure whether he would have an MRI once the team landed in Atlanta. He also wasn't sure about his playing status. The Bulls face off against the Hawks on Saturday night. "We'll see how it feels," he said. "It's sore now. We'll see how it feels [Saturday] morning and then we'll go from there." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries 

Tom Thibodeau does not think he is playing Joakim Noah and Luol Deng too many minutes. He wanted to make that clear Friday afternoon when asked if he thought Noah, who like Deng is averaging over 40 minutes a game, is seeing too much court time for the Chicago Bulls. "No," Thibodeau said. "It doesn't matter. He's in his 20s." The veteran coach chafed at the suggestion he was overworking the two most important players on his current team without Derrick Rose on the floor. "Look, here's the thing, OK?" he said. "I sat on the opposing bench when Phil [Jackson] was coaching the Bulls. I used to sit there and say, 'When's he going to take those guys out, because I don't want to see them on the floor.' He never did." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Luol Deng, Coaching, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah 

“We played them in the Finals in '99. Duncan never came out, so … who knows?” he said. The point is, Thibodeau said, “I think there's more scrutiny all around and it's not just for a lot of minutes … it's never the right amount of minutes, that's the only thing I do know. “So if a guy's not playing big minutes, it's not enough minutes,” he said. “Then if a guy's playing big minutes, it's too many minutes. So I don't know; you play to win, that's the thing. What gives you the best chance to win? Can a guy handle minutes?" ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Luol Deng, Coaching, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: Luol Deng: "We played terrible. We’re not playing like how we used to play. We have a lot to work on defensively and offensively." #Bulls Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng 

Deng is being introduced from South Sudan this season instead of his customary Duke. "I love Duke," Deng said. "It's nothing against Duke. Me and Coach K are friends. After we got our independence, I wanted people to recognize South Sudan. It's a way to get recognition if someone is in the crowd or listening at home on TV, they might Google it." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng 

The Chicago Bulls and Luol Deng provided Thanksgiving dinner to more than 700 guests at the Pacific Garden Mission on Sunday. Deng and Bulls representatives including Michael and Nancy Reinsdorf, Gar and Leslie Forman, Randy Brown, Bill Wennington, Chuck Swirsky, Sidney Green, Carolyn Paxson, Benny the Bull as well as Bulls and Levy Restaurants front office staffs were on hand to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the men, women and children visiting the rescue mission that evening. Deng also presented each guest with a winter hat that he donated personally. NBA.com

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng 

However, a bit of a controversy flared up surrounding Deng’s decision to not have wrist surgery, which allowed him to continue playing for the Bulls last season, represent Great Britain in the Olympics and start the upcoming season on time. Deng is clearly weary of all of the debate, but while he’s learned to take the questions about his health in stride, the longest-tenured member of the Bulls is also very firm in his rationale not to have the procedure. “It took two questions before [the media asked about] the wrist,” he said Monday, while seated at the podium for the team’s media day. “The wrist is the wrist. It is what it is. I’m expecting to be asked about it all year, but I’ve just got to go out and play, play as hard as I can, do what I can do. Whether it’s one arm or two arms or no arms, I’m going to be the best that I can be. That’s the goal, just go out there and play as hard as I can. It felt great in the Olympics. Since I’ve been back practicing, it’s been feeling great and so far, so good. CSN Chicago

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries, Great Britain, Olympics 

Nick Friedell: Deng doesn't rule out surgery. Knows it's still a possibility. Twitter @ESPNChiBulls

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries 

Luol Deng: I like people like @SteveBlake5 helping people and not making noise about it. #ThatsReal Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Luol Deng, Steve Blake 

Luol Deng: On my way to Africa. First stop beautiful Rwanda. #Excited and can't wait. #GiftedToGive Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng 

While it's unclear how far, if at all, the talks progressed under Hennigan, what is clear is that Noah and Deng don't fall into the younger, cheaper assets category. The pair is on the books for nearly $75 million over the next four years (two more for Deng, four more for Noah). Couple that with the fact that both players are dealing with ongoing injury problems -- Noah has dealt with ankle problems for the past few seasons and still isn't 100 percent after badly rolling his ankle in the playoffs, and Deng has a torn ligament in his wrist and may need surgery -- and it's understandable why Hennigan and the Magic went in another direction. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Trade, Luol Deng, Dwight Howard, Joakim Noah 

When 27-year-old Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng walks down his local high street in Brixton, south London, he is barely recognised - despite his 6ft 9ins frame. However he still puts much of his success down to his early days with the Brixton Topcats, where coach Jimmy Rogers was a key influence. Deng said: "I've never worked as hard as I did in Brixton. Jimmy really pushed us to the limit." BBC

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng 

Mr Rogers pointed out that, as a boy from London, Deng's international achievements were against the odds. "Deng's success in the States has nothing to do with any sort of strategy here in the UK," he said. "It's a miracle he made it." Mr Rogers added: "There is talent all over England, and London is the envy of the rest of the world outside the US because of its large urban population. But kids are not given the opportunity." BBC

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng 

Through the Olympics, Deng averaged 15.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists in five games, shooting 31.4 percent. "If the Olympics were next month, I'd play again," Deng said. "This is something no one will ever take away. I'm always going to remember this moment, walking out for the opening ceremonies and playing with guys I played with my whole life. Seeing my parents out there and (youth coach) Jimmy (Rogers), I can't explain it. It's one of those stories, if I missed the Olympics, I'd always think about that." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Great Britain, Olympics 

Indeed, Deng wore a broad smile as he linked arms with teammates as "God Save the Queen" played to a full stadium in full throat. And he deflected questions about his subpar play to broader issues. "I believe basketball is going to grow in this country," he said. "It would've been easy for me to say I don't want to play. But I feel I made the right decision. A lot of kids saw me play. "It's very similar to being at the All-Star Game and taking out my (Africa) T-shirt. A lot of people would disagree with it, but I know it's the right decision." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries, Great Britain, Olympics 

In his strongest implication yet that he either will forego surgery on the torn ligament in his left wrist altogether or postpone it until after the 2012- 13 season, Deng said he planned to start camp on time. "Did I look like I needed (surgery)?" Deng said Monday evening. "I'm fine right now. I feel great. There are a lot of things I want to improve in my game that I want to focus on now. I want to be a better player than I was last year. "I have time to make decisions and be healthy by the time we start (training camp)." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries, Great Britain, Olympics 

KC Johnson: Covered Deng's entire NBA career. He loves playing for Bulls. Rarely seen him happier, prouder than here. Big moment he handled w/ class. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Great Britain, Olympics 

Britain had to go through a lengthy process to prove to governing body Fiba that they were good enough to play at London 2012, but with just one win, questions may now be asked about their progress on the global stage. "We would love to have advanced," Deng continued. "There were a couple of sleepless nights but it's all worth it. In the future it will make all of us hungry for more, and better players. "There were a lot of mistakes. We had turnovers and I made a lot of careless plays. Individually we all have to get better, but collectively we've got to do a better job," the Chicago Bulls player added. BBC

Luol Deng, Great Britain, Olympics 

Marc Stein: Post-game @LuolDeng9 for Bulls Nation: "Did I look like I needed surgery? I'm fine right now. I feel great." Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries, Great Britain, Olympics