Former Wisconsin Basketball Star Brought in for NBA Tryout

Former Wisconsin basketball star Sam Dekker was a first-round pick for the Houston Rockets in 2015 and spent six total seasons in the NBA.

He averaged 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in 201 career games, including eight starts. He had stops with the Rockets, Clippers, Wizards, Cavs, and Raptors.

Although his NBA career never panned out, he has found plenty of success playing overseas.

He spent two years playing in Russian and Turkish basketball leagues from 2019-2021.

Most recently, Dekker has been playing for the London Lions in the British Basketball League. In his first season in London (2022-2023), the former Badger averaged 17.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game en route to the British Basketball League (BBL) MVP award. He helped lead the Lions to a BBL Cup victory and was named the BBL Team of the Year.

He regressed slightly in his second season with the Lions, scoring just 12.6 points per game, but still led the Lions to a successful season. The Lions went 33-3 in the regular season, earning the top overall seed in the BBL Playoffs. The Lions went on to win the playoff finals with Dekker being named the playoff final MVP.

After his success overseas, the former Wisconsin basketball star has a chance to get back into the NBA.

According to John Clark, an NBC sports reporter in Philadelphia, the 76ers brought Dekker in for a tryout.

I’m told the Sixers held a free agent workout and tryout for a former first round draft pick of Daryl Morey in Houston, Sam Dekker pic.twitter.com/hQYEdizxLr

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 18, 2024

There is no indication that Dekker will end up signing a contract with the 76ers, but it’s a positive sign that the Wisconsin basketball legend could be back in the NBA eventually.

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