JackJumpers’ championship hero reveals special friendship with AFL 350 game superstar
NBL title winner and JackJumpers star Majok Deng has revealed how his special friendship with AFL legend Eddie Betts originated, and how much it means to him.
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NBL grand final hero Majok Deng has revealed the special relationship he shares with footy legend Eddie Betts.
The giant JackJumper and the 350-game AFL legend struck up a friendship when each was representing Adelaide, Betts with the Crows and Deng the 36ers.
“I’ve known him since we were back in Adelaide, he’s a big 36ers fan and I’ve had a relationship with him,” Deng said.
“He’s been amazing to me. It’s all love with Eddie Betts, man, he’s a true legend of sport. Not just in footy but all sports.
“I respect him, I have love for his family and for the way he stands up.”
The pair shared a moment at John Cain Arena, pre-game, then hugged it out after Deng’s JackJumpers topped Melbourne United 83-81 in the decisive fifth game of the grand final.
Betts’ appearance at the NBL season finale came days after his children were racially abused while playing basketball in their own backyard.
Deng said Betts shared some encouraging words - and was hoping for a look at Deng’s signature Marvel Black Panther celebration.
“He said, ‘hey, play your game, man, and I want to see that ‘Wakanda Forever’,” Deng said.
“Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to do that.
“But it all started back in Adelaide when he used to go to games.”
The 31-year-ol debuted for Adelaide in 2016 and revealed he and JackJumpers teammate Anthony Drmic - who were both on the 2018 36ers squad that lost the grand final series to United in five games - had revenge on their mind.
“I lost game five to United my second year in Adelaide,” he said.
“It was in the back of our minds from the start of the series, so it’s kind of like a little payback for Drmic and I.”
“This is my first, it’s a special one.”
Deng missed two months of basketball with a serious ankle injury and only made it back to the JackJumpers’ lineup on the eve of finals.
The Ant Army will be eternally grateful he did because, without his 15-point four-quarter explosion in game three - after big man Marcus Lee went down with a knee injury - they’d be commiserating, now, rather than celebrating.
“We’ve been working all year, it’s all about the next man up,” Deng said.
“When one person goes down, you’ve got to step up and it just happened to be my night.
“But, you know what, forget about all that, it’s over, right now, we came together and we did it.
“Yeah baby!”
Deng has scribbles all over his LeBron XX sneakers, tributes and reminders.
“I’ve got one for my daughter and my son, my initials, my wife’s initials, then I always write on it ‘believe’,” he said.
“I always believe in my hard work and when you put in a lot of work, it will always pay off.
“It’s a reminder, my family and to just believe in myself.”
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