Tag: Sam Dekker

LOOK: Wisconsin basketball legend Sam Dekker reacts to Greg Gard’s postgame comments

Wisconsin legend Sam Dekker sounds off on college officiating

When Big Ten official Bo Boroski’s name is trending on Twitter, you know something went horribly wrong in today’s Wisconsin-Iowa game. The Hawkeyes defeated the Badgers 77-73 in Iowa City after a wild last minute that lasted for an eternity. A number of reviews, questionable calls, and complaints from both sidelines scarred what was otherwise set up to be a fantastic finish.

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A number of Wisconsin players, coaches, fans, and media members have already chimed in on the officiating, but here is Badger great Sam Dekker’s take on what Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard had to say postgame:

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Dekker seems to have some experience with the issues of college officiating.

LOOK: Wisconsin basketball legend Sam Dekker gives his thoughts on freshman G Johnny Davis

The former Badger sings the praises of the freshman

Even in a crushing 67-59 loss to Michigan, there are always positives to be found from a Wisconsin perspective. That positive on Sunday was freshman guard Johnny Davis, who was the only Badger that found consistent offense during the second half implosion. Finishing as one of only three Badgers in double figures with 11 points, the freshman’s degree of difficulty on a number of second half buckets was what stood out.

Current professional basketball player for Turk Telekom in Turkey and Wisconsin basketball legend Sam Dekker chimed in on Twitter during a second half where Davis was the only thing going Wisconsin’s way. Take it from a former five-star recruit who went to a pair of Final Four’s as a Badger: this freshman is special.

 

LOOK: Former Badger F Sam Dekker reacts to Wisconsin landing three-star PF Markus Ilver

The Wisconsin Badgers landed a class of 2021 commitment yesterday from three-star power forward Markus Ilver. Former Badger Sam Dekker

The Wisconsin Badgers landed a semi-surprise class of 2021 commitment yesterday from three-star power forward Markus Ilver, the No. 42-ranked power forward in the class and the No. 6 player from the state of Ohio.

Ilver, an Estonia native, plays his high school basketball at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio and now joins PG Chucky Hepburn and forwards Matthew Mors and Chris Hodges in Wisconsin basketball’s class of 2021.

Related: Everything Wisconsin HC Greg Gard said after yesterday’s blowout loss at Michigan

After his commitment moved the class to No. 32 in the nation and No. 4 in the Big Ten, former Wisconsin star forward Sam Dekker took to Twitter to congratulate Ilver and explain what kind of player Wisconsin is getting.

Site editor Asher Low ran through a brief scouting report of the Badgers’ new member of the class of 2021 yesterday.

“Standing at 6-foot-8, he is known for his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting, but has the ability to attack the closeout with high-level athleticism. His lightning fast release will immediately translate at the next level.”

Here is a look at Ilver’s shooting from this past year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjOG84eOgTk&feature=emb_title

WATCH: Sam Dekker nails a familiar game winner in the Basketball Champions League

The former Badger hit a shot that reminded Wisconsin fans of his days in Madison

This morning, a former Badger basketball legend hit a shot that may remind Wisconsin fans of something.

With his Turk Telecom squad, one of the top teams in Turkey and all of Europe, down one against Limoges, Dekker made back to back plays to seal a win. First, the Wisconsin legend nailed a go-ahead three with just under ten seconds left:

He followed that up with a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass that clinched a big win in the Basketball Champions League, one of Europe’s top basketball competitions featuring teams from all over the continent.

Did the spot he hit that shot from remind you of anything in particular? Let’s just say Dekker owns the right wing when it’s winning time:

J.R. Smith calls out ex-teammate he ‘didn’t like,’ player’s wife gets involved

J.R. Smith said something about Sam Dekker ‘talking some Trump ****’ and his wife came back at him on Twitter. Smith wasn’t having it.

As far as offseason stories go, J.R. Smith of the Los Angeles Lakers gave us one of the more hilarious ones we’ve seen and it all just stemmed from a moment of honest on a recent podcast. Last week, Smith was a guest on the CBS podcast All Things Covered, where he revealed that his former Cavaliers teammate Sam Dekker is the ‘only’ former teammate that he didn’t like. The reason?

When Dekker was on the Cavaliers with Smith for a brief time before Smith and the team decided it was time to part ways, Smith says that Dekker was talking some ‘Trump s***,’ that he didn’t agree with, as transcribed by Dan Feldman of NBC’s Pro Basketball Talk.

Throughout my whole career, it’s only one teammate I really don’t like. And he know that. And everybody else, I’m just cool with.

This dude Sam Dekker, dog. I can’t – this dude. He did some bulls— on the bus one day, talking some Trump s—, and I just wasn’t having it.

For what the question he asked, it’s a thought pattern. You’re taught that. It’s not like – it’s the hate you give. And I feel like it’s something you’re taught. It’s not – the privilege he has was taught to him, and he took heed of it and run with it even further than somebody who was not – who was oblivious to what they have and what the life they lived. Because some people just go through their life – not not necessarily knowing, but not aware and privy to somebody else’s circumstances. He’s a person who’s just very aware of somebody else’s circumstances and want to keep them there, as opposed to try to help him elevate up. And I don’t respect anything about that

After that happened, Dekker’s wife, Olivia Harlan Dekker, tried to invalidate what Smith said. Smith, of course, responded. Smith, according to Jared Dudley, was often leading conversations about politics and current events, is very vocal about politics on social media. He and LeBron James campaigned for Hillary Clinton during the last election.

Dekker is currently playing for Turk Telekom of the Turkish league and he did not play in the NBA during the 2019-20 season.

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WATCH: Former Badger Sam Dekker posterizes defender in Turkey

After stints in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards, former Badger…

After stints in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards, former Badger Sam Dekker has looking for a permanent basketball home.

The former Badger was an integral part of the program’s run to consecutive Final Fours in 2013 and 2014, production which made him a first round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Well, the NBA dream has been put on hold for at least time time being as Dekker spent last season playing in Russia and just recently signed with Türk Telekom of the Turkish Super League.

It did not take long for Dekker to introduce himself as he came down the lane and absolutely posterized the defender in his way:

The path back to the NBA may be a challenging one for Dekker, but his time thus playing overseas has been filled with nothing but success.

Former Badger Sam Dekker says Mavericks star Luka Doncic did ‘one of the most impressive things a basketball player can do’

The former Badger star has high praise for the young Dallas star

Perhaps the greatest NBA moment of the season happened last night when Mavericks star Luka Doncic made his playoff arrival in dramatic fashion. His patented step back jumper gave the Dallas Mavericks an upset game four win against a championship favorite in the Clippers. Former Badger great and current overseas basketball pro Sam Dekker is just as impressed with the 21 year-old as the rest of us, but made an interesting point on Twitter today given his unique perspective as someone playing in Europe.

Sure, a step-back playoff game winner at the age of 21 after a 40-point triple double is nearly as impressive as it gets, but Dekker pointed to something even earlier on in the career of the current Dallas star.

Oftentimes, the EuroLeague is viewed by American fans as a massive step below NBA basketball and not given the respect it deserves. Yes, the NBA is the most talented and toughest league in the world, but EuroLeague basketball is arguably the most physical basketball being played today. The level is higher than most American fans realize, as Dekker points out. He even admits that he lacked a full understanding of just how difficult the league was until he was actually playing in it.

Doncic dominated the highest level of international basketball at the age of 18 en route to a EuroLeague championship and MVP season with Real Madrid in 2018. He has been re-writing the record books at every level since his teenage years. We are seeing unprecedented greatness at a young age from the Slovenian-born star that is destined to be one of the next faces of the NBA.

One of Wisconsin basketball’s all-time greatest players named to the Big Ten Network All-Decade First Team

Frank the Tank with a well-deserved honor

After a tremendous decade of Wisconsin basketball, awards from the Big Ten Network are flowing in. Frank Kaminsky was named to the Big Ten All-Decade First Team this morning. Kaminsky joined Trey Burke of Michigan and Draymond Green of Michigan State as the first three players named to the squad. The Big Ten Network is announcing the other two players later today.

Kaminsky had a legendary career that culminated in his jersey being retired at the Kohl Center. The current member of the Phoenix Suns led the Badgers to back-to-back Final Fours, a national championship game appearance, and was named National Player of the Year in 2015. One of Wisconsin’s greatest players of all time is extremely deserving of such a prestigious honor from the Big Ten Network.

What an all-time Wisconsin Badgers NBA starting five would look like

Creating an all-time NBA lineup of Wisconsin alums

While Wisconsin basketball has not always been a consistent tournament team that pumps out NBA talent, we have seen a number of Badgers succeed at the next level over the years. With this all-Wisconsin starting five we will be creating an all-time NBA starting five featuring Badger alums. The criteria I used to come to the selections was as follows. The players chosen were selected because of their NBA careers, not their Wisconsin careers, and positions were sometimes hard to fill with a player that was actually listed at that position. For each player chosen, I also chose the year that I would want them on my team (in other words, the best year of their NBA careers). So, here is our BadgersWire all-time Wisconsin NBA starting five.

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The quarantined Wisconsin basketball reunion is finally here

As I promised last week here, the Big Ten Network told fans via Twitter that they would be posting a zoom call reunion with Badger basketball stars from the 2013-14 and 2014-15 Final Four runs. It is finally here, and it is as good as advertised. …

As I promised last week here, the Big Ten Network told fans via Twitter that they would be posting a zoom call reunion with Badger basketball stars from the 2013-14 and 2014-15 Final Four runs. It is finally here, and it is as good as advertised. The Wisconsin on BTN teaser clip from the full thirty minute session has former Badger guard Ben Brust asking the Wooden Award Winner Frank Kaminsky if “he knew he was good.” You do not want to miss this comedy.

The full zoom session is now available via the Big Ten Networks YouTube account (link below). Former Badgers Ben Brust, Zack Showalter, Sam Dekker, Josh Gasser, and Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky remember better times as they look back on their Final Four days. Enjoy the Big Ten Network’s “Video ReCall.”