Ex-NBA Power Forward Signs To Play In U.K.

After trying his hand back in the NBA this past season, 4-year veteran power forward Sam Dekker is heading back overseas, signing with the London Lions of the British Basketball League.

IT'S OFFICIAL! ✍️ @dekker
We are very happy to confirm the signing of the talented forward with NBA & EuroCup experience - Sam Dekker! 🇺🇸 #wearelondon #londonlions #samdekker #BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/gDvIdPOXj1

— London Lions (@LondonLions) August 7, 2022

He'll join center Kosta Koufos, who also signed with the Lions this summer. 

Dekker spent four seasons in the NBA from 2015 through 2019, playing for four different teams, but never really catching on as a solid rotation piece. So he spent two seasons playing in Russia and Turkey, where he averaged 14 points and 5.5 rebounds, while shooting 39% from three-point range. 

Wanting to give the NBA another try, he signed on with the Toronto Raptors last offseason, but only got into one game (and in fact, played only one minute) before being waived in early November and returning to Turkey.

Dekker was the 18th overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2015 NBA Draft, averaging 5.4 points and 3 rebounds in his four NBA seasons. 

Photo: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports