Former Wisconsin basketball great announces return to UW-Madison

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

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, he forwent his final year of college eligibility and left campus without a degree.

After being selected with the No. 18 pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, the Wisconsin native played a total of 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 currently 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 Second Team All-Big Ten 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 surely provide a veteran spark plug presence in an NBA locker room next season. Plus, 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.