Samuel Thomas Dekker (born May 6, 1994) is an American professionalbasketball player who last played forJoventut Badalona of the SpanishLiga ACB. Dekker playedcollege basketball for theWisconsin Badgers. After finishing college on achampionship game run in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Dekker was selected by theHouston Rockets with the 18th overall pick in the2015 NBA draft.[1]
Dekker was named the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior season. He was also named 2012Parade All-American,AP first-team all-state andWisconsin Basketball Coaches' Association's Mr. Basketball award. He ledSheboygan Lutheran to the school's first-everWIAA state title. Dekker scored 40 points, including the last 12, in the state title game including the game-winning three-point shot with two seconds left.[2]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Dekker SF | Sheboygan, WI | Sheboygan Lutheran | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jun 15, 2010 | |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 4 (SF) Rivals: 3 (SF) ESPN: 4 (SF) | ||||||
Sources:
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Dekker played in 35 games (3 starts) as a freshman on theWisconsin Badgers. He was one of only four true freshman to start underBo Ryan, joiningDevin Harris,Alando Tucker and Josh Gasser. He earned Big Ten All-Freshman team recognition as well as honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. He was also two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week (January 14 and March 4, 2013). Dekker scored a season-high 19 points againstArkansas on November 24, 2012, andNebraska on February 26, 2013.[2]
Before the season, Dekker was named to theWooden Award andNaismith Trophy watch lists.[3]
At the conclusion of the regular season in which he started all 38 games, Dekker was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and Third Team All-Big Ten by the media.[4]
Before the season, Dekker was named to the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy watch lists.
At the conclusion of the regular season, Dekker was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and by the media. But he really only took off in the NCAA Tournament. In the Sweet 16 against the number four seeded North Carolina Tar Heels, Dekker scored a career high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the 1-seed Wisconsin to a 79–72 victory. In the Elite 8 against the number 2-seeded Arizona Wildcats, Dekker again came up big, scoring a new career high 27 points, including 5 of the Badgers's 10 second-half threes, the final of which is now known nationally as the "Dekker Dagger" shot because it sealed the win for Wisconsin. For these efforts, he was named West Regional Most Outstanding Player during the2015 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. In the Final Four game against the heavily favored and undefeated Kentucky Wildcats, Dekker came through with another huge game, scoring 16 points, including the three that gave Wisconsin the lead for good. The Badgers finished second in the NCAA tournament after losing to Duke in the championship game.[5] A week later, Dekker declared for the2015 NBA draft, forgoing his final year of college eligibility.[6]
On June 25, 2015, Dekker was selected by theHouston Rockets with the 18th overall pick in the2015 NBA draft.[1][7] On July 7, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Rockets[8][9] but subsequently missed the entire2015 NBA Summer League due to a back injury.[10] He appeared in all eight of the Rockets' preseason games, but managed game time in just three of the team's first 11 regular-season games.[11] On November 18, 2015, he was ruled out for three months after requiring back surgery.[12] On February 19, 2016, he was assigned to theRio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets'D-League affiliate, on a rehab assignment.[13] He was recalled by the Rockets on February 22.[14] He went on to receive two more assignments to the Vipers.[15]
On December 14, 2016, Dekker scored a career-high 19 points in a 132–98 win over theSacramento Kings.[16] On January 21, 2017, he made his first career start and set a new career high with 30 points in a 119–95 win over theMemphis Grizzlies.[17]
On June 28, 2017, theLos Angeles Clippers acquired Dekker,Patrick Beverley,Montrezl Harrell,Darrun Hilliard,DeAndre Liggins,Lou Williams,Kyle Wiltjer and a 2018 first-round pick from the Houston Rockets in exchange forChris Paul.[18]
On August 7, 2018, Dekker was traded, along with the draft rights toRenaldas Seibutis and cash considerations, to theCleveland Cavaliers in exchange for the draft rights toVladimir Veremeenko.[19]
On December 7, 2018, Dekker was traded to theWashington Wizards in a five-player, three-team deal. The Wizards tradedJason Smith and cash considerations to theMilwaukee Bucks. The Bucks sentJohn Henson,Matthew Dellavedova, and 2021 first- and second-round picks to theCleveland Cavaliers and receivedGeorge Hill and a 2021 second-round pick. The Wizards also sent a 2022 second-round pick to the Cavs.[20]
On August 5, 2019, Dekker signed with Russian clubPBC Lokomotiv Kuban of theVTB United League and theEuroCup.[21]
On July 23, 2020, Dekker signed withTürk Telekom of theTurkish Super League (BSL).[22]
On August 10, 2021, Dekker signed with theToronto Raptors.[23] However, he was waived on November 6, after making a single regular season appearance.[24]
On December 4, 2021, Dekker signed withBahçeşehir Koleji of the TurkishBasketball Super League.[25] The team won the 2021-22FIBA Europe Cup, with Dekker averaging 13.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.[26][27] He helped Bahçeşehir win the2021–22 FIBA Europe Cup, contributing averages of 11 points and 5.5 rebounds in theFinals.
On August 7, 2022, Dekker signed with theLondon Lions of theBritish Basketball League (BBL) and theEuroCup.[28] In his inaugural season, the Lions won both the 2022–23 BBL Cup and Championship, and Dekker was the top scorer in the EuroCup regular season. In May, Dekker was named the MVP of the 2022–23 BBL season.[29] In the2022-23 Eurocup season, club debut in the second european competition, they reached the play-offs but being knocked in the eightfinals against Joventut Badalona. Sam was the best player of the team in the whole season and play-offs, and got into theAll-Eurocup second team. He won the BBL again in the 2023–24 season, becoming MVP of the Final. In the2023–24 Eurocup season they reached the semi-finals for the first time in the history of the club but also for an english club in European competitions, being knocked by the future champions of the competition,Paris Basketball.
On November 12, 2024, Dekker signed a temporary contract withJoventut Badalona, a historic team from Catalonia (Spain) in theACB League.[30] Joventut was also taking part theEuroCup but didn't reach the play-offs due to a bad start in the regular season. After achieving qualification in 5th position for theSpanish King's Cup and his big impact on the team, Sam extended his contract until the end of the season as he became a key player since his arrival.[31]
He was namedACBWeek 12 MVP after a memorable performance with 30 points (8 three-pointers) and 8 rebounds againstLeyma Coruña.[32] With Joventut finishing in 6th position in the ACB, Dekker averaged 13 points and 4 rebounds per game (41% 3PT). Joventut qualified for the play-offs, falling in the quarterfinals.
On August 1, 2025, Sam extended his contract with Joventut Badalona for one more year, until June 2026.[33] In February 2026, Dekker reached an agreement to terminate his contract with Joventut in order to travel to the US to seek treatment for recurring shoulder injuries.[34]
Dekker has remained a Sheboygan resident throughout his NBA career. In November 2016, Dekker purchased a 1,568-square-foot condo on the Sheboygan River for $289,000.[35]
In May 2017, Dekker became engaged toOlivia Harlan, anESPN andSEC Network reporter, daughter of NBA announcerKevin Harlan, and granddaughter of NFLGreen Bay Packers Chairman EmeritusBob Harlan.[36] The two were married on July 14, 2018.[37] In 2022, they welcomed their first child.[38]
In Summer 2012, Dekker was on the under-18 United States national team that defeated Brazil for the gold medal in theFIBA Americas championship, but his play was limited due to an injury.[39]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Houston | 3 | 0 | 2.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.3 | - | 0.3 | - | - |
| 2016–17 | Houston | 77 | 2 | 18.4 | .473 | .321 | .559 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 6.5 |
| 2017–18 | L.A. Clippers | 73 | 1 | 12.1 | .494 | .167 | .661 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 4.2 |
| 2018–19 | Cleveland | 9 | 5 | 18.8 | .458 | .385 | .800 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 | - | 6.3 |
| 2018–19 | Washington | 38 | 0 | 16.3 | .471 | .286 | .556 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 6.1 |
| 2021–22 | Toronto | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | – | – | – | - | - | - | - | - |
| Career | 201 | 8 | 15.4 | .478 | .288 | .606 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 5.5 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Houston | 4 | 0 | 7.8 | .250 | .500 | .000 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| Career | 4 | 0 | 7.8 | .250 | .500 | .000 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Wisconsin | 35 | 3 | 22.3 | .476 | .391 | .690 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 9.6 |
| 2013–14 | Wisconsin | 38 | 38 | 29.8 | .469 | .326 | .686 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 12.4 |
| 2014–15 | Wisconsin | 40 | 40 | 31.0 | .525 | .331 | .708 | 5.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 13.9 |
| Career | 113 | 81 | 27.9 | .493 | .348 | .695 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 12.1 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Lokomotiv Kuban | 10 | 8 | 27.0 | .705 | .303 | .789 | 5.3 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 13.1 | 15.6 |
| 2022-23 | London Lions | 16 | 16 | 30.8 | .528 | .263 | .677 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 18.2 | 19.6 |
| 2023-24 | London Lions | 11 | 4 | 21.5 | .563 | .355 | .769 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 11.8 | 12.1 |
| 2024-25 | Joventut Badalona | 10 | 8 | 25.1 | .571 | .263 | .811 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 13.1 | 13.3 |
| Career | 47 | 36 | 26.2 | .630 | .303 | .773 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 14.1 | 15.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Türk Telekom B.K. | 12 | 11 | 27.4 | .686 | .356 | .733 | 5.8 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 13.7 | 15.3 |
| 2025-26 | Joventut Badalona | 5 | 1 | 17.5 | .571 | .250 | .600 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | - | 7.4 | 7 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Bahçeşehir Koleji S.K. | 10 | 9 | 26.2 | .565 | .337 | .755 | 7.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 13.1 | 14.2 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Turk Telekom B.K. | 28 | 25 | 33 | .541 | .452 | .712 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 15.4 | 16.3 |
| 2021-22 | Bahçeşehir Koleji S.K. | 18 | 17 | 26 | .475 | .342 | .733 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 1 | 0.2 | 13.2 | 15.6 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Joventut Badalona | 26 | 16 | 27 | .482 | .423 | .813 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 13 | 11.2 |
| 2025-26 | Joventut Badalona | 12 | 1 | 16 | .550 | .220 | - | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 4.6 | 3.3 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Joventut Badalona | 1 | 1 | 28 | .750 | .625 | .667 | 2.0 | 1.0 | - | - | 23 | 22 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG | PIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Joventut Badalona | 2 | 0 | 27 | .690 | .333 | .667 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | - | 11 | 6.5 |
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