Badgers in the NBA: Sam Dekker is signing with the Toronto Raptors

After two seasons overseas, former Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball star Sam Dekker is heading back to the NBA after signing with the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday morning.

Dekker, who was originally drafted by the Houston Rockets No. 18 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, played four seasons in the NBA and owns a career average of 5.5 points per game playing for the Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards.

Dekker was also briefly a member of the Milwaukee Bucks organization when he was traded to Milwaukee from Cleveland, along with George Hill, in exchange for Matthew Dellavedova, John Henson and a first round and future second round draft pick. Washington then joined the trade as a third party and Dekker was shipped off to the Wizards from the Bucks for Jason Smith and a future second round pick.

Since last appearing in the NBA, Dekker has played overseas, most recently with Turk Telecom, of the Turkish Super League, where he averaged 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while appearing in 11 games and shooting 48.7 percent from the field (35.3 from 3-point range).

During his time at Wisconsin, Dekker was an integral part of the 2014 and 2015 back-to-back Final Four teams, while earning Second Team All-Big Ten and Third Team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore and Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior.

Dekker cemented himself as an NBA prospect during Wisconsin’s second deep tournament run, scoring 23 points in the Sweet Sixteen against North Carolina and 27 points against Arizona in the Eight Eight, connecting on five of Wisconsin’s 10 second half threes, including the 3-point shot that sealed the win.

Dekker’s performance earned him West Regional Most Outstanding Player. In three seasons in cardinal and white, Dekker averaged 12.1 points per game and shot 49 percent from the field.