Success in the NBA from former Wisconsin Badgers basketball players is a rarity. Only a few active players currently play professional basketball, with the most recent Badgers player and youngest of them all, Sam Dekker, returning from a back injury that forced him to miss his entire rookie campaign.
On Saturday night, Dekker earned his first career start with the surging Houston Rockets, scoring a career high 30 points on 12-19 shooting and leading the team to a 119-95 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. He also added four rebounds and two steals.
Not only does the point total and performance speak volume for Dekker, but the fact he is everyday increasing his role on the third place team in the Western Conference shows that his value and contributions are not to be taken for granted.