Deng growing restless with Lakers: 'I play for people who believe in me'

Since signing his lucrative four-year, $72-million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers two summers ago, veteran forward Luol Deng has seen the floor a grand total of 57 times - 56 of which came in 2016-17 - due to the team's commitment to its younger players.

All the 33-year-old wants is a chance to compete, whether that's in purple and gold or in another team's colors.

"I want to play, I want to be a part of something," Deng told IOL's Stuart Hess while out in Johannesburg for the NBA Africa Game. "But I’m not going to be a part of a place where you don’t believe in me. I’m not trying to knock down anybody, but I play for people who believe in me.

"I’ve taken every opportunity since day one and proven myself, I’m not going to sit here and give you the right answer, I’m going to be honest about it, for me, if the respect and appreciation is not there then I’d rather be elsewhere."

Deng is due $36.81 million through 2019-20, which president Magic Johnson has openly joked about being next to impossible to move. In Magic's defense, it was former general manager Mitch Kupchak who handed Deng the contract.

The 14-year pro is a two-time All-Star and former member of the All-Defensive second team, but his best years are very much behind him. With the Lakers stacked in the frontcourt with LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, and Michael Beasley soaking up minutes, there's little reason to think head coach Luke Walton will look to squeeze Deng into his rotation.

Deng saw his last action in the 2017-18 season opener, scoring two points on two shot attempts in 13 minutes. He told Hess that he had no say in the decision to keep him benched the remainder of the year.

"They can say whatever they want, I know I can play the game, they see me at practice every day," he added. "If it was a game thing then come out and say it, but the honest truth, it’s the decision they made."