Tag: badgers in the nba

Report: Wisconsin basketball great Sam Dekker tries out for three NBA teams

Report: Former Wisconsin great Sam Dekker tries out for three NBA teams

Former Wisconsin Badgers great Sam Dekker has recently tried for three NBA teams: the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.

This news is courtesy of the CapTimes’ Mike Lucas, who recently caught up with Dekker as he looks to make his return to the NBA.

Related: Big Ten basketball teams ranked by returning production entering 2024-25 season

Dekker has spent the last three seasons overseas after spending part of the 2021 season with the Toronto Raptors. He only spent parts of five campaigns in the NBA after being selected as the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft.

The majority of his career has been split between the VTB United League in Russia (2019-2020), the Turkish Basketball Super League in Turkey (2020-2021, 2021-2022) and the British Basketball League in England (2022-present).

Dekker’s most recent stop has been by far his most successful. The Wisconsin great led the London Lions to the 2023 British Basketball League Cup championship, earning league and finals MVP honors in the process. His season stat line included 20.8 minutes, 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals on 53% shooting.

It appears Dekker has finally recaptured the form that helped him lead the Wisconsin Badgers to two Final Four appearances and one trip to the national championship game.

Given the clear interest showed by some of the league’s top contenders, it appears that the 6-foot, 9-inch small forward is well on his way toward taking his refound game back to the best basketball league in the world.

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Three former Badgers can be seen during NBA Summer League action

Johnny Davis isn’t the only former Badger playing in the Summer League this year

The Wisconsin basketball program has not necessarily been a high-level producer of NBA players over the last decade. Several players have made it and stuck around, but few are at that level making a significant impact.

The program currently has two graduates in the league: Washington Wizards guard Johnny Davis and Utah Jazz forward Micah Potter. Of note, Potter is currently on a two-way contract with the Jazz and the NBA G League’s Salt Lake City Stars.

With the month of July comes the aftermath of the most recent NBA Draft and the NBA Summer League. The latter provides a golden opportunity for players like Potter who are working to find a permanent spot on an NBA roster.

For Badgers fans out there, these are the three Wisconsin products that will take part in the Summer League action this moth:

WATCH: Johnny Davis reveals his favorite moment of rookie season

WATCH: Johnny Davis reveals his favorite moment of rookie season

If you followed Johnny Davis’ strong close to the season for the Washington Wizards, you can probably guess his favorite moment.

Davis had an expanded role late in the year, and averaged 17 points per game over five games in April. One of those games included the best highlight of his rookie campaign.

In a late-season loss to Milwaukee, Davis was able to catch one of the NBA’s best defenders at the rim with a ferocious slam. He threw it down on Jrue Holiday, and finished that April 4th contest with 20 points on 9-17 shooting from the field. Here is Davis on that play in his own words:

It’s been a challenging NBA start for Johnny Davis

It’s been a challenging NBA start for Johnny Davis

As a member of the Badgers last season, Johnny Davis was the recipient of the Big Ten Player of the Year award. The guard averaged 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game in his sophomore season with Wisconsin. He was able to beat out the likes of Keegan Murray and Jaden Ivey to earn the top honors in the conference.

Davis leveraged the fantastic season into being selected 10th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2022 NBA Draft. Going from being a freshman who didn’t start a game to being a top-10 selection in under two years was quite the accomplishment.

That being said, Davis has had a difficult start to his NBA career and as we’ve passed the mid-way point in the season, the guard has had little-to-no impact at the professional level this year.

Davis has struggled to see much action in his rookie campaign, appearing in only 10 games with the Wizards so far, scoring a total of 11 points over 50 minutes. He’s bounced back and forth between the G-League’s Capital City Go-Go and the active roster.

The 20-year-old has played in three games with the Go-Go, averaging 11.3 points and 3.3 rebounds while playing nearly 28 minutes per contest in his limited action. Over the past month, the former Badger has been nursing a hip injury and is expected to make his return to the court in the near future.

Although it has been a tough start to his career, the Wizards’ head coach Wes Unseld Jr. has been impressed with the composure Davis has shown and is encouraged by the guard’s development this season.

With a little under half of the season remaining, Davis will likely get a chance to see extended run with the Go-Go and could earn himself a role on the Wizards’ roster down the stretch.

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Former Badgers C Micah Potter has found a new home

The former Badger has a new professional home

Former Badger big man Micah Potter is on the move. After spending time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce and playing in three games for the Detroit Pistons during his rookie season, the sophomore pro has been acquired by the Motor City Cruise. 

The Cruise are the NBA G-League affiliate of the Pistons and acquired Potter’s returning player rights on Thursday. 

In 32 games with Sioux Falls, the Ohio native averaged 16.8 points per game, and pulled down 9.5 rebounds per contest. He shot 45% from distance and nearly 55% from the field. The team officially announced the move on Thursday: 

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Dillon Graff on Twitter @DillonGraff.

These three former Badgers will play in NBA Summer League

A look at the Badgers playing in NBA Summer League next week

NBA Summer League marks a chance for players to make a roster, get experience at the next level, and impress teams from around the league.

For three former Wisconsin players in the professional ranks, Las Vegas will provide a platform to accomplish different goals. Whether it be a rookie looking to gain valuable experience or a veteran trying to make a roster, Badgers will be on the floor at the 2022 NBA Summer League.

The main event begins on July 7 and runs through July 17 at the Thomas and Mack Center, the home of UNLV. Here is a look at the three Badgers who will be participating:

LOOK: Johnny Davis gets his Washington Wizards jersey number

A look at Johnny Davis’ new jersey

Last Thursday evening, Johnny Davis became the first Badger selected in the NBA draft since 2015. Wisconsin’s star wing is now a Washington Wizard, as he was selected at No. 10 overall by the team from the nation’s capital.

After wearing No. 1 while at Wisconsin, the La Crosse native showed off his new number during last week’s introductory press conference. Davis will wear No. 5 with the Wizards, which was his high school number at La Crosse Central. He switched over to No. 1 as a Badger due to Tyler Wahl already wearing No. 5.

Check out Davis in his new threads courtesy of the Wizards on Instagram:

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Every Wisconsin Badger selected in the NBA draft since 1980

The Badgers selected in the NBA draft since 1980

With Johnny Davis becoming the latest Badger to be selected in the NBA draft, let’s take a look back at the history of Wisconsin basketball draft choices.

On Thursday evening, the La Crosse native became the first Badger selected since 2015 when Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker ended up being first-round picks.

Since 1980, there have been 18 Badgers selected in the NBA draft. Of those 18 players, 9 were selected in the first round, with the highest pick landing at No. 5 overall.

Since 2000, there have been 6 selections, with five being first-round picks. Here is a look at the complete history of Badgers in the NBA draft since 1980:

Where Johnny Davis stands in ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft

See where Johnny Davis stands in ESPN’s latest 2022 NBA mock draft.

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In the midst of one of the most impressive breakouts in college basketball this season, Johnny Davis continues to hear his name mentioned as a potential lottery pick in the 2022 draft.

In Jonathan Givony’s most recent 2022 mock draft, he had the La Crosse (Wis.) native going 8th overall to the Indiana Pacers.

The sophomore guard has arguably seen his draft stock skyrocket more than any player in the nation this season. Davis has gone from a productive rotation member who averaged 7.0 points, and 4.1 rebounds off the bench in just over 24 minutes a game last season, to potential front-runner for National Player of the Year.

The former La Crosse Central standout leads the Badgers in scoring with 22.3 points per game (5th in NCAA), rebounds per game (7.4), assists (2.6), steals (1.4), and free throws made (81).

Davis’ year to year development under head coach Greg Gard has certainly been notable, and can only aid Wisconsin’s ability to land higher profile recruits moving forward.

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Former Badger F Micah Potter has a career-day in the NBA G-League

The former Badger has a big day in the NBA G-League

Former Wisconsin forward Micah Potter is finding early success in his NBA G-League rookie campaign. The Ohio native is playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and putting up numbers as their starting center.

In a 106-99 loss to the Motor City Cruise on Tuesday, Potter put up 28 points and 15 rebounds, both of which were game-highs. To add to the Big Ten alumni flavor, he was matched up with Detroit Pistons center and Iowa Hawkeye great Luka Garza.

Potter went 11-19 from the field, and connected on three of his five three-point looks.

Here is a look at how Potter was able to put up the double-double: