The talented forward has been with the club for less than a week
Sam Dekker stepped up for Joventut in his first game
Article
3 Mins read
Joventut Badalona had to battle until the final minute to beat Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 78-72 at home in Round 8 in a game that saw newcomer Sam Dekker flash hints of his great talent, too.
Dekker had not played an official basketball game since winning the British League title with the London Lions. His contract is still being honored by the Lions, but Dekker cannot play in the British League due to budget restrictions. Joventut saw an opportunity and signed him. Dekker was a 2022-23 All-EuroCup Second Team selection and helped London reach the EuroCup semifinals last season.
Despite being a little out of rhythm, Dekker knows the competition well and his talent did the rest. He did not have spectacular numbers, finishing the game with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a PIR of 3, but Dekker stepped up in two critical moments during the game. When Devon Dotson briefly left the game with a small injury, Dekker had 4 points which allowed Joventut to keep a 61-60 lead after 30 minutes.
And when Buducnost completed its comeback, 70-72, with over 2 minutes remaining, Joventut needed a go-to guy, as Buducnost had limited the hosts to just 2 points in the previous 5 minutes. After a timeout, Guillem Vives found Dekker for the go-ahead three-pointer from the left corner. After a defensive stop, Adam Hanga also struck from downtown to put Joventut on the right track, 76-72. Defense did the rest, as Buducnost was held scoreless in the last 2 minutes.
Dotson had been sensational before his injury, and still finished the game with career-highs of 26 points and a PIR of 32. He had 23 of those points in the opening 23 minutes before getting injured on his first missed shot, but was able to come back and help his team win.
"A great win today. We emphasized before the game to come out with a lot of energy and a lot of motivation. In the past games, we have played tight, every game has been really close," Dotson said after the game. "Today, we wanted to change that and really finish the game and just get this win. It was a great victory. I am glad the team played well and helped me, uplifted me to play well, also."
Game Videos
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Joventut Badalona-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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Edwards finds Booker! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
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Nigel Hayes-Davis: 'His negativity is what fuels me'
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Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-FC Bayern Munich| RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Edwards-Booker connection! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Edwards finds Booker! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/26a06284-eb65-4242-bd24-491c38e83538.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-ratiopharm Ulm | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:13
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Ferrell decides the game from deep! Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/786eae94-42fe-4a30-b8a4-7660fde2eb32.jpg?crop=1179%3A663%3Anowe%3A62%3A59]()
Tanaskovic lowers the boom! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/TyrcGEb9Ccg/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Dolomiti Energia Trento-Joventut Badalona | Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:17
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Tomic drops the dime! Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9d02ac69-6cef-4317-81d3-d6baa45ad427.jpg?crop=850%3A478%3Anowe%3A141%3A68]()
Pustovyi slams it home! Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/DlhnVbmqcpw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ibf0A-2vP-8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Joventut Badalona-Dreamland Gran Canaria | Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
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Kamenjas drives for a dunk! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b6e4d1bf-4916-47de-be48-d1acedfa3e43.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul-Joventut Badalona | Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/903db6af-904f-457f-b456-63dda909d1e0.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A71%3A30]()
Monster dunk from Pustovyi! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9d02ac69-6cef-4317-81d3-d6baa45ad427.jpg?crop=1158%3A651%3Anowe%3A61%3A65]()
Big dunk from Pustovyi! Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3c919f23-8e46-428d-9f9c-0e90f7485266.jpg]()
Joventut Badalona-Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/JzJSE-E3WtY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Trefl Sopot | Round 4 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
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Nice dunk by Yannick Kraag! Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c377ba00-3acf-41f1-bbb8-01d4fcbffd26.jpg?crop=1000%3A562%3Anowe%3A66%3A51]()
Sulaimon and Kamenjas combines for the dunk! Magic Moment
- 03:55
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/09/rlAV2f7mcO9xVrB1oBeXs8377c1XNaUP-1728506702285.jpg]()
Dolomiti Energia Trento-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 03:32
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Trefl Sopot-Joventut Badalona | Round 3 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/155ebd81-13ee-4fc5-bd32-8fe009ef5b97.jpg?crop=936%3A527%3Anowe%3A80%3A113]()
Dotson beats the halftime buzzer with a very long three! Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/457def58-4085-4ad1-8265-9e5e97c413ae.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A71%3A24]()
Kraag with the dunk on a fastbreak! Magic Moment
- 04:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9d28af3f-546b-48d7-8ad9-b1d3725db7e7.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Dreamland Gran Canaria | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a6d7488c-7aee-4c14-a867-21a63b73abd8.jpg?crop=1316%3A740%3Anowe%3A93%3A100]()
Magic Moment: Juwan Morgan throws it down!
- 00:37
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/01/1HjTZJegIkLbTDd4RPn4Tp0Vwj1lkBQu-1727816210857.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: Pustovyi dunks with force!
- 03:53
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/01/Xua0T5ISYcf6Zt9D7GNRhtHXXjzb942B-1727814309665.jpg]()
ratiopharm Ulm-Joventut Badalona | Round 2 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:33
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d51eb139-6a2a-48f4-aed1-423b84a50c1a.jpg?crop=1251%3A703%3Anowe%3A43%3A57]()
Magic Moment: Dotson hits a buzzer-beating triple!
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8b3b942d-f52a-4204-bbe4-8a167042b77e.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A84]()
Magic Moment: Michael Ruzic stops Noa Essengue!
- 00:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/26/W7CC6hzblcOM0E9RiG1jHoltR7tSmp1F-1727332765198.jpg]()
Ante Tomic | Round 1 MVP | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/09/26/aualxxEtwwkLdZgslfit6su5gPPYnwKV-1727370585445.jpg]()
Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/96517234-e117-4580-9fa7-2d019f630a19.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A89]()
Magic Moment: Juwan Morgan with a big dunk!
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3f329c72-567b-4e6f-8a12-6365d2a4b348.png?crop=750%3A422%3Anowe%3A0%3A71]()
Magic Moment: Kenan Kamenjas rocks the rim!
- 03:37
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/180a0aea-f2a5-46c5-9a74-4e5c0dae279c.jpg]()
Joventut Badalona-Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/903db6af-904f-457f-b456-63dda909d1e0.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A21%3A68]()
Magic Moment: Pustovyi hammers it home!
- 03:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/14/mYhyLMA2oCUlbkCk6s12hlWnphwSoQYr-1710453944814.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Joventut Badalona | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 01:13
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/06/nMF9vdoYLUi8v0e67yHzWLyBGhfLIp4M-1709767099070.jpg]()
Andres Feliz | Eighthfinals MVP | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:48
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/05/zvcGyK8NgIUkIbi7bnUlBNfkT4fNOrZO-1709674290555.jpg]()
ratiopharm Ulm-Joventut Badalona | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/03/05/6jX8adSs02yiS9K0NTl3iDfNleXJBRXj-1709672461551.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: Kraag completes a perfect fastbreak!
- 03:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/02/07/w6OHOjPSPlyivwpXr7SSCbVwL2x7dFBX-1707336919180.jpg]()
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Dreamland Gran Canaria | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 03:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/02/07/3fyWLDIWKjnwkmIi0McxqLLayLXc4n72-1707334174817.jpg]()
Prometey Slobozhanske-Joventut Badalona | Round 18 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/33b02518-e58e-4ddd-b67e-0d647e7ff672.jpg?crop=4800%3A2700%3Anowe%3A432%3A482]()
Magic Moment: Makoundou punishes the rim again!
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9291f7b1-3c2a-42f9-a77e-40869a2e25ed.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A126%3A49]()
Magic Moment: Makoundou finishes the quarter with authority!
- 00:19
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/31/qPqU4wcUJ5Kqfr5feRiYqRbZDpY9HOCn-1706740404794.jpg]()
Magic Moment of the Night: What have you done, Makoundou!!
- 03:44
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/01/31/LaMcaMsFNendcigTv1Cl07S1TJbtZXrP-1706735821218.jpg]()
Dolomiti Energia Trento-Buducnost VOLI Podgorica | Round 17 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9291f7b1-3c2a-42f9-a77e-40869a2e25ed.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A112%3A154]()
Magic Moment: What have you done, Makoundou!!
Head coach Dani Miret took in some fresh air once his team broke a four-game losing streak in the competition. He believes that enjoying themselves playing good basketball is the next step for the team after the upcoming break.
"I think that in other games, we deserved victories because we are worrying and putting all the effort, making a lot of solid things. Right now, this victory will help us shine a little bit more because when we are competing, we are nor enjoying what we need to enjoy," Coach Miret said. "We are doing the job but good basketball teams also enjoy. It is easy when you are winning and this is what the team needs right now, have confidence, start to enjoy playing with each other. It is a great victory for the team."