His arrival will help cover the Spanish side's injury problems
Joventut signs Sam Dekker on short-term deal
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Joventut Badalona has announced the signing of Sam Dekker on a short-term deal that runs until December 18, 2024.
Dekker (2.06 meters, 30 years old) spent the last two seasons playing in the BKT EuroCup for the London Lions, guiding the team to the playoffs in their first-ever campaign in the competition before helping them reach the EuroCup Semifinals last year.
With Kaiser Gates, Michael Ruzic and Miguel Allen all injured, Dekker's arrival is a welcome boost for Joventut.
The American forward impressed so much in his first year with London that he earned a spot in the 2022-23 All-EuroCup Second Team. Last season he averaged 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists across 11 EuroCup games in what was an injury-hit campaign for him personally, while his first year with the Lions saw him post 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 16 EuroCup appearances.
In the English capital, Dekker was also named the 2022-23 British Basketball League MVP and helped the team win back-to-back league championships, as well as the 2022-23 BBL Cup.
Dekker started his professional career with the Houston Rockets, which drafted him with the 18th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He remained with Houston for two years, then played for the Los Angeles Clippers (2017-18), Cleveland Cavaliers (2018-19) and Washington Wizards (2018-19) before heading to Europe. He briefly returned to the NBA with the Toronto Raptors (2021-22).
On the old continent, he has suited up for Lokomotiv Kuban (2019-20), Turk Telekom Ankara (2020-21), Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2021-22) and London (2022-24). He will now play in Spain for the first time in his career with Joventut.