Sam Dekker Already Has A Game Plan For Defending LeBron James

Sam Dekker Already Has A Game Plan For Defending LeBron James

The 2014-15 college basketball season had a bittersweet ending for Sam Dekker, as his Wisconsin Badgers fell short to the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA men's basketball title game. Nonetheless, the two-time second-team All-Big Ten player and former Wisconsin Mr. Basketball has shifted his thought process toward higher stakes, focusing on Thursday night's NBA Draft and beyond.

The draft will likely result in a first-round selection that would pit Dekker against fellow small forward LeBron James. When Dekker sat down with HuffPost Live on Tuesday to discuss his partnership with Old Spice, host Marc Lamont Hill asked how he would defend against James, a four-time league MVP and two-time NBA champion, when they play against one other next season.

"I am going to try to give him a step because he is so quick. If at all possible, try to force a tough jump shot, because if he gets into the paint, it is over," Dekker said. "LeBron's not a bad shooter, but I would rather have him shooting a jump shot fading away than dunking on me. [I would] try to force something tough. No easy buckets."

Dekker is considered by most draft boards to be a mid-first round pick. Last season the college standout averaged 13.9 points and 5.5 assists per game.

Watch Dekker discuss his strategy for playing LeBron in the video above, and click here for the full HuffPost Live conversation.

Before You Go

NBA Draft Lottery Basketball

2015 NBA Draft Lottery

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot