Posted on 5 May, 2022

The NBL1 Cobra Men have made a huge in-season addition to their roster, signing star forward Deng Deng for the 2022 season.

Deng enjoyed an impressive stint with the Cobras at the tail end of the 2021 season, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds per contest in four games with Kilsyth prior to the season’s early cancellation. Deng made a significant impact in his short time with Kilsyth, instantly transforming the Cobras into league contenders with his elite two-way play and athleticism. His playmaking and athleticism was on full display as he dropped a season-best 25 points to go along with eight rebounds on July 11, leading the Cobras to a statement road win over league-leaders, Frankston.

It's SHOWTIME here at home as @DengDeng19 hammers home the lob! #NBL1 pic.twitter.com/PzeKqYxebt

— Kilsyth Basketball (@KilsythCobras) July 10, 2021

The 6’8 matchup nightmare has since enjoyed a breakout year in the NBL with the Brisbane Bullets, posting career-best numbers in his second season up north. Over the final ten games of the NBL season, Deng averaged 9.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest off the bench for the Bullets, highlighted by a seasons-best 16 points against the New Zealand Breakers and a 12-point, eight-rebound, four-assist outing in the season finale against the Cairns Taipans.

While Deng’s scoring and rebounding numbers were a bright spot for Brisbane, it was his work on the defensive end that turned heads, with the 30 year-old named the Bullets’ Defensive Player of the Year for the 2021-22 NBL season.

Three ✅ Steal ✅ Assist ✅

Huge work from @DengDeng19 for @rorkprojects Play of the Game#NBL22 #BRISBANEBULLETS pic.twitter.com/ZDcGxdzNyN

— Brisbane Bullets (@BrisbaneBullets) February 26, 2022

Following a standout season with the Bullets and his flashes of brilliance with Kilsyth last year, Cobras head coach, Pete Godfrey, is anticipating big things from Deng in 2022, and expects the former Baylor Bear to make an immediate impact with a strong Kilsyth group.

“We are exceptionally happy to see Deng back in the mighty red and black for most of season ’22,” Godfrey said.

“Deng is a legitimate NBL calibre athlete and talent, and he fitted straight in on and off the court with the group in 2021. Unfortunately with last season cut short, he played just four games with us, but was set for a massive second half of the season.”

Deng will make his debut this weekend as the Cobras head to Tasmania to take on the Hobart Chargers (Friday) and the NW Tasmania Thunder (Saturday).