Tag: Sam Dekker

Former Wisconsin basketball great announces return to UW-Madison

Former Wisconsin basketball great announces return to UW-Madison

Former Wisconsin basketball great Sam Dekker announced via X on Monday that he has returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to finish his degree.

Dekker, one of the program’s most decorated alumni, departed the university in 2015 after three years on the hardwood to pursue NBA aspirations. By doing so a year early, he left campus without a degree.

After being selected with the No. 18 pick of the 2015 NBA draft, the Wisconsin native played 201 games across five NBA seasons for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors from 2015-22.

Stints overseas with the VTB United League in Russia (2019-2020) and the Turkish Basketball Super League in Turkey (2020-2021, 2021-2022) followed.

The 6-foot-9 forward stars for the British Basketball League’s London Lions. As its offensive engine, Dekker helped the Lions capture the 2023 British Basketball League Cup championship and pocketed both league and finals MVP honors in the process. He registered 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds off 53% clip from the field in nearly 21 minutes per appearance across the pond in ’23.

Nonetheless, Dekker’s NBA endeavors have yet to fade. This summer, the 2015 All-Big Ten second-team selection tried out for the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.

With a portfolio of postseason success at Wisconsin and professional exposure thousands of miles away, Dekker can provide a veteran spark plug presence in an NBA locker room next season. However, with responsibilities in the classroom, the NBA could serve as a distraction from future homework assignments.

Now at age 30, Dekker plans to wrap up his education at one of the United States’ most recognized public universities.

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.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Report: Former Wisconsin basketball star works out for Philadelphia 76ers

Report: Former Wisconsin basketball star works out for Philadelphia 76ers

Former Wisconsin basketball star Sam Dekker recently worked out for the Philadelphia 76ers, according to NBC Philadelphia’s John Clark.

Dekker most recently played in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors for one game during the 2021-2022 season. His long and winding professional career led him to the British Basketball League’s London Lions, where he has spent the last two seasons.

Related: Wisconsin basketball 2024-25 starting lineup, rotation and bench with Andrija Vukovic signing

The 30-year-old’s career has included stops in the NBA with the Houston Rockets (2015-2017), Los Angeles Clippers (2017-2018), Cleveland Cavaliers (2018), Washington Wizards (2018-2019) and Raptors (2021). He has also played in Russia for Lokomotiv Kuban (2019-2020), and in Turkey for Turk Telekom (2020-2021) and Bahçeşehir Koleji (2021-2022).

The Wisconsin legend’s recent stop with the London Lions has been his best as a professional. His 2023 season included per-game averages of 20.8 minutes, 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals on 53% shooting. That performance was enough to earn British Basketball League MVP honors as the Lions went on to win the BBL Cup Final — where he was also named Cup Final MVP.

The 2012 Wisconsin Mr. Basketball recipient is looking for another shot in the NBA with 76ers general manager Daryl Morey — the former Rockets GM who drafted Dekker in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft.

Dekker’s storied Wisconsin career included two Final Four appearances including one trip to the national championship game. He finished his three-year career with per-game averages of 27.9 minutes, 12.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks on 52.5% shooting and 33% from three. His other collegiate accolades include two All-Big Ten Second Team nods (2014, 2015) and an inclusion on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2013.

The 76ers are working to retool the roster around superstar Joel Embiid and rising star Tyrese Maxey after yet another early-round playoff exit. Dekker may find a role as a depth piece at small forward.

The former Badgers’ previous NBA stops were short-lived. But it’s possible that his game is greatly improved since moving overseas in 2019.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

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Sixers recently held workout with former Rockets forward Sam Dekker

The Philadelphia 76ers recently worked out former Houston Rockets forward Sam Dekker.

The Philadelphia 76ers will have their eyes set on the big fish once free agency hits on June 30 and they will have the cap space to acquire one of those big names.

However, the Sixers will have to fill out the rest of the roster. They currently only have four players under contract for the 2024-25 season and will have to get to work in terms of bringing in some role players who can help them win.

As Philadelphia prepares for the offseason, it has begun to look at options. Per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark, the Sixers recently worked out former Houston Rockets forward Sam Dekker who was the 18th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft.

Dekker has played in 201 games in the NBA averaging 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds. He has also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Washington Wizards, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Toronto Raptors. He played overseas in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons before playing one game for the Raptors in 2021-22.

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On This Date: Wisconsin’s Bronson Koenig nails buzzer-beating to push Badgers into Sweet 16

Favorite Wisconsin March Madness memory?

In just two days, Greg Gard’s No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers will look to generate some magic against No. 12 James Madison in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Ahead of its 27th tournament appearance in program history, Wisconsin has experienced its share of electricity during March Madness. Whether it be Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker leading the charge in 2015 or the unexpected Final Four appearance under head coach Dick Bennett in 2000, the Badgers have traditionally known what it takes to win.

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

Perhaps the most memorable late-game tournament moment arrived on this day eight years ago when Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig nailed a buzzer-beater to lift the No. 7-seed Badgers over No. 2 Xavier. The corner snipe clinched the Badgers’ spot in the Sweet Sixteen — a round the program hasn’t reached since 2017.

Wisconsin found itself trailing Xavier by nine points with just under six minutes to spare in the contest. The Badgers would go on to tie the game at 63  after a quick run led by Nigel Hayes, Ethan Happ and Jordan Hill. 

Then, with the game tied and two seconds remaining, Greg Gard called an inbounds play to Koenig in the corner. The rest is history.

Former Wisconsin MBB coach honored Wednesday

After what felt like far too long, former Badgers men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan is set to be honored Wednesday in Madison.

After what felt like far too long, former Badgers men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan is set to be honored Wednesday in Madison. Ryan along with multi-sport athlete Gary Buss will be inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club.

Ryan was the head coach at Wisconsin for 14 full seasons (12 games in 2015) and produced 364-130 overall record, which is good for an all-time program best 73.7 percent win percentage. Additionally, Wisconsin made the NCAA Tournament in all 14 of the campaigns he was the head coach.

Most notably, the Badgers made two consecutive trips to the Final Four in 2014 and 2015, losing in the National Championship to Duke 68-63 in the latter run.

Ryan helped coach some of the best players in program history, namely Alando Tucker, Devin Harris, Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker amongst others. There’s no denying that he left a substantial impact on the program, the university, the city of Madison and the state of Wisconsin as a whole.

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Badgers MBB highlights former athletes with great seasons in the BBL

Former Wisconsin men’s basketball players Sam Dekker and Jordan Taylor just completed a championship winning season with London in the BBL.

Former Wisconsin men’s basketball players Sam Dekker and Jordan Taylor just completed a championship winning season with the London Lions in the British Basketball League.

Dekker (2012-2015) was a member of the Badgers’ teams that made back-to-back appearances in the Final Four in 2014 and 2015, operating as five-star recruit from Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Taylor (2008-2012) recorded 464 assists during his career with the Badgers, finishing second in school history with that figure while his 13.0 offensive win shares is the most by a Badger.

In a great season with the Lions, Dekker averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists while playing in 21 games during the BBL regular season, earning the league’s Player of the Year award.

When it came to the playoffs, Jordan Taylor was the former Badger who took a step up, putting up 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the BBL Championship. The performance earned him Finals MVP.

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After MVP season, Sam Dekker earns contract extension in British Basketball League

After MVP season, Sam Dekker earns contract extension in British Basketball League

Sam Dekker recently earned MVP honors in the British Basketball League as his London Lions finished the regular season 32-4.

The Wisconsin native averaged 17.1 points per game in league play and more than 18 points per game in EuroCup play. He joined the Lions this past summer after having played more than 200 NBA games across the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards.

After his MVP campaign, Dekker earned a multiyear contract extension with the team and will remain in London.

“Sam has been an integral piece to the organization, both on and off the court,” London Lions general manager Brett Burman said team press release. “He showed extreme efficiency this season as a versatile scoring wing, a guy who can get to his spots and dictate the flow of the game. We’re thrilled to have Sam, Olivia, and their family as long-term members of the club and the London community.”

 

Former Wisconsin Badger Sam Dekker wins British Basketball Player of the Year

Former Wisconsin Badger Sam Dekker wins British Basketball Player of the Year

Former Wisconsin Badger star Sam Dekker took home the British Basketball League Player of the Year award on Friday. The Lions won the regular-season title by going 32-4 in league play, and Dekker was an integral part of their success.

The Wisconsin native averaged 17.1 points per game in league play and more than 18 points per game in EuroCup play. He joined the Lions this past summer after having played over 200 NBA games across the Rockets, Clippers, and Wizards.

He was noted as one of the biggest signings in the league’s history at the time, and has certainly lived up to expectations as the Player of the Year in 2022-23.

Watch: Top Wisconsin wide receiver joins Sam Dekker’s podcast

Chimere Dike, the Badgers leading receiver from 2022, joined Sam Dekker’s “Varsity Beat” podcast to talk about his passion for Wisconsin.

Chimere Dike, the Badgers leading receiver from 2022, joined Sam Dekker’s “Varsity Beat” podcast on Thursday to talk about his long-standing passion for Wisconsin. The Waukesha native explained how he’s always been a Badger fan since he can remember.

Dike produced a team-high 689 receiving yards and six touchdown catches last season and he will look to improve upon that in 2023. Now under a new head coach in Luke Fickell (Cincinnati) and a new offensive coordinator Phil Longo (North Carolina), the wide receiver and SMU transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai are expected to lead the passing attack.

It’s always great to have an athlete like Dike in a leadership role considering his deep admiration for the university and its athletic programs.

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