Basketball: Great Britain's Luol Deng could face fine after All-Star game

Luol Deng drives for a shot attempt (GETTY IMAGES)

Great Britain's Luol Deng was happy to risk an NBA fine after wearing a T-shirt honouring Africa during the pre-game introductions at the All-Star game.

The Chicago Bulls forward, originally from South Sudan, stepped onto the platform ahead of the exhibition match wearing a black T-shirt carrying an outline of the African continent and drew attention to it when his name was announced.

The gesture could be judged to violate the dress code for the game, but Deng was relaxed over any possible sanction.

"If I get fined, I'm okay," he told ESPN. "To me, what I did is worth it for me.

"I wouldn't do something that's negative. 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.

"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 played less than six minutes of the game after injuring his left wrist and was one of only three players not to score a point, but he added: "For me, being selected and recognised as an All-Star meant a lot more to me than what I was going to show or do tonight on the floor."

PA