Sunday Dech

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Sunday Dech

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| number =

| team = Knox Raiders

| league = NBL1 South

| position = Guard

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|1|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Gambela, Ethiopia

| nationality = South Sudanese / Australian

| height_cm = 195

| weight_kg = 91

| high_school = Churchlands
(Perth, Western Australia)

| college =

Metro State (2016–2017)
Barry (2017–2018)

| draft_year = 2018

| career_start = 2013

| years1 = 2013–2016

| team1 = East Perth Eagles

| years2 = 2013–2015

| team2 = Perth Wildcats

| years3 = 2018

| team3 = Rockingham Flames

| years4 = 2018–2019

| team4 = Perth Wildcats

| years5 = 2019

| team5 = East Perth Eagles

| years6 = 2019

| team6 = Wellington Saints

| years7 = 2019–2020

| team7 = Illawarra Hawks

| years8 = 2020–2025

| team8 = Adelaide 36ers

| years9 = 2021

| team9 = North Adelaide Rockets

| years10 = 2022

| team10 = Canterbury Rams

| years11 = 2024

| team11 = East Perth Eagles

| years12 = 2025–present

| team12 = Knox Raiders

| years13 = 2025–present

| team13 = Perth Wildcats

| highlights =

2× NBL champion (2014, 2019)
NZNBL champion (2019)
NBL1 Central champion (2021)
NBL1 Central Grand Final MVP (2021)
SBL champion (2014)
SBL Most Improved Player (2014)
SSC All-Newcomer Team (2018)

}}

Sunday Dech (born 1 January 1994) is a South Sudanese-Australian professional basketball player for the Knox Raiders of the NBL1 South. He is also contracted with the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is a two-time NBL champion with the Perth Wildcats, having won in 2014 and 2019. Dech played NCAA Division II college basketball for the Metro State Roadrunners and Barry Buccaneers. He spent a season with the Illawarra Hawks in 2019–20 before playing five seasons for the Adelaide 36ers between 2020 and 2025.

Early life

Dech was born in Gambela, Ethiopia,{{cite web |title=Adelaide 36ers Sign Sunday Dech |url=https://www.adelaide36ers.com/news/adelaide-36ers-sign-sunday-dech |website=Adelaide 36ers |accessdate=31 October 2020 |date=22 July 2020}}{{cite web |title=Sunday Dech |url=https://www.sharksbasketball.co.nz/sundaydech |website=Southland Sharks |accessdate=31 October 2020}} as one of seven children to South Sudanese parents Abraham Dech and Aret Ochala.{{cite web |last1=Jimma |first1=Natal |last2=Huntsdale |first2=Justin |title=Australian basketball diversifies as 'tsunami' of African players hits NBL |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-14/the-growth-of-african-players-in-professional-basketball/11963060 |website=ABC |accessdate=14 July 2020 |date=14 February 2020}}{{cite web |title=Sunday Dech Bio |url=https://gobarrybucs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2509 |publisher=Barry University |accessdate=11 October 2019}} His family are members of the Anuak tribe.{{cite web |last1=Spreadborough |first1=Joel |title=How connection to culture helps NBL stars 'light fire within' |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sport/article/2021/05/28/how-connection-culture-helps-nbl-stars-light-fire-within |website=SBS |access-date=13 June 2021 |date=28 May 2021}} Dech moved from Gambela to Perth, Western Australia, at the age of six when his father was able to secure immigration forms for his family. He participated in a variety of sports growing up – including Australian rules football, soccer and skateboarding – that he credits as helping him to acclimatise to Australian life. Dech began playing basketball at the age of 16.{{cite web |title=Sunday Dech |url=https://www.panfc.org/sunday-dech/ |website=Perth African Nations Sports Association |access-date=7 January 2021}} He attended Churchlands Senior High School and graduated in 2012.

Basketball career

=Early years=

Dech debuted in the State Basketball League (SBL) with the East Perth Eagles in 2013. For the 2013–14 NBL season, he joined the Perth Wildcats as a development player and was a member of the championship-winning team in April 2014. That year, he was named the SBL's Most Improved Player{{cite web |title=2014 Basketball WA Award Winners |url=https://basketballwa.asn.au/blog/2014/09/09/2014-basketball-wa-award-winners/ |publisher=Basketball Western Australia |accessdate=11 October 2019 |date=9 September 2014}} and helped the Eagles win the championship. He then continued on with the Wildcats as a development player in 2014–15 before playing a third season with East Perth in 2015.{{cite web |title=Sunday Dech - Player Statistics SBL |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=205149958&client=0-5011-83386-357507-23096622 |website=GameDay |access-date=22 April 2025 |language=en}}

=College=

The 2015–16 season saw Dech redshirt with the Metro State Roadrunners. He returned to the Eagles for the 2016 season and then made his college debut with the Roadrunners in the 2016–17 season. In 28 games for the Roadrunners, he averaged 13.0 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Sunday Dech Bio |url=https://roadrunnersathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2539 |publisher=Metropolitan State University of Denver Athletics |accessdate=11 October 2019}} Dech transferred to Barry University and joined the Buccaneers for the 2017–18 season to play his final season of eligibility. In 32 games, he averaged 13.3 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. He earned SSC All-Newcomer Team honours and was named in the SSC All-Tournament Team.

=Professional=

Following the 2017–18 U.S. college season, Dech returned to Australia to train with the Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets.{{cite web|last=O'Donoghue|first=Craig|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/sunday-dech-stepping-up-in-perth-wildcats-title-push-ng-b881122385z|title=Sunday Dech stepping up in Perth Wildcats' title push|work=thewest.com.au|date=2 March 2019|accessdate=18 February 2020}} After a three-game stint with the Rockingham Flames at the back-end of the 2018 SBL season,{{cite web |last1=Horton |first1=Stuart |title=Rockingham Flames secure SBL play-off spot |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/sound-southern-telegraph/rockingham-flames-secure-sbl-play-off-spot-ng-b88904821z |publisher=The West Australian |accessdate=11 October 2019 |date=24 July 2018}} Dech re-joined the Perth Wildcats for the 2018–19 NBL season as a training player.{{cite web |title=Young guns to get their chance at pre-season games |url=http://www.wildcats.com.au/news/article/young-guns-to-get-their-chance-at-pre-season-games |website=Perth Wildcats |accessdate=11 October 2019}} He was later designated as Perth's nominated replacement player and filled in for the injured Damian Martin and Mitch Norton throughout the season.{{cite web |last1=O'Donoghue |first1=Craig |title=Perth Wildcats look for lift without inspirational skipper Damian Martin against New Zealand |url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/perth-wildcats-look-for-lift-without-inspirational-skipper-damian-martin-against-new-zealand-ng-b881010334z |publisher=The West Australian |accessdate=11 October 2019 |date=3 November 2018}} In March 2019, he was crowned a champion for the second time when the Wildcats defeated Melbourne United in the 2019 NBL Finals. Dech was subsequently awarded the Coaches' Award by head coach Trevor Gleeson.{{cite web |title=Illawarra Sign Sunday Dech for NBL20 |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/article/illawarra-sign-sunday-dech-for-nbl20 |website=NBL |accessdate=11 October 2019 |date=9 April 2019}}{{cite web |author=Perth Wildcats |title=Sunday Dech has been awarded the Coaches' Award... |url=https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats/status/1114484822699720704 |website=twitter.com |accessdate=22 July 2020 |date=6 April 2019}} He went on to play in New Zealand during the off-season, where he helped the Wellington Saints win the NZNBL championship.

On 9 April 2019, Dech signed a two-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks after being highly sought after as a free agent. The 2019–20 NBL season saw Dech earn nominations for both the league's Most Improved Player and Best Defensive Player.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/119604998/southland-sharks-ready-for-sunday-best-in-2020-national-basketball-league|title=Southland Sharks' ready for Sunday best in 2020 National Basketball League|work=stuff.co.nz|date=18 February 2020|accessdate=18 February 2020}} His remaining contract with the Hawks was voided when the club was liquidated on 18 May 2020.{{cite web |last1=Hope |first1=Shayne |title=NBL's Hawks liquidated amid huge debt |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6761056/nbls-hawks-liquidated-amid-huge-debt/ |website=Illawarra Mercury |accessdate=15 July 2020 |date=18 May 2020}}

Dech initially signed with the Southland Sharks before they withdrew prior to the start of the 2020 New Zealand NBL season.{{cite web |last1=Jeffrey |first1=Nick |title=Sunday best! Dech signs with Sharks |url=https://www.sharksbasketball.co.nz/single-post/2020/02/18/Sunday-best-Dech-signs-with-Sharks |website=Sharks Basketball |accessdate=18 February 2020 |date=18 February 2020}}{{cite web |title=2020 Update - Sharks confirm NBL plans |url=https://www.sharksbasketball.co.nz/single-post/2020/05/16/2020-Update---Sharks-confirm-NBL-plans |website=Southland Sharks |accessdate=23 June 2020 |date=16 May 2020}}

On 22 July 2020, Dech signed a three-year deal with the Adelaide 36ers.{{cite web |title=Sixers Land Sunday Dech |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/sixers-land-sunday-dech |website=NBL.com.au |accessdate=22 July 2020 |date=22 July 2020 |language=en}} He built a reputation as one of the league's standout defenders during the 2020–21 NBL season.{{cite web |last=Pike |first=Chris |title=Cotton, Wildcats Ideal Return Challenge for Sunday Dech |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/cotton-wildcats-ideal-return-challenge-for-sunday-dech |website=NBL.com.au |accessdate=17 January 2022 |date=17 January 2022}} Following his first season with the 36ers, Dech played for the North Adelaide Rockets of NBL1 Central.{{cite web |title=Rockets set to launch with signings of star 36ers duo |url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/rockets-set-to-launch-with-signings-of-star-36ers-duo/ |website=NBL1.com.au |access-date=11 April 2021 |date=9 April 2021}} He helped the Rockets win the championship while earning grand final MVP honours.{{cite web |title=Rocket-Men fly to first since 2007 |url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/rocket-men-fly-to-first-since-2007/central/ |website=NBL1.com.au |accessdate=17 January 2022 |date=11 September 2021}}

Dech missed the start of the 2021–22 NBL season with a hematoma of his quad. For the season, he averaged 12.3 points, 2.43 assists, and 4.26 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Sixers Sign Sunday Dech to Extension |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/sixers-sign-sunday-dech-to-extension |website=NBL.com.au |access-date=29 April 2022 |date=29 April 2022}}

Dech joined the Canterbury Rams for the 2022 New Zealand NBL season.{{cite news |title=Rams Secure Sunday Dech |url=https://canterburyrams.basketball/rams-secure-sunday-dech/ |newspaper=Canterbury Rams |access-date=7 April 2022 |date=6 April 2022}} Dech made his debut for the team on 8 May 2022 against the Auckland Tuatara.{{Cite web |title=NZNBL: New Zealand National Basketball League |url=https://men.nznbl.basketball/game-recap-rams-tuatara/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |language=en-AU}} On 21 May 2022, Dech scored an NZNBL individual season-high 35 points in a loss to the Nelson Giants.{{Cite web |title=NZNBL: New Zealand National Basketball League |url=https://men.nznbl.basketball/game-recap-giants-stand-tall-to-take-down-rams/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |language=en-AU}}

On 29 April 2022, Dech signed a three-year contract extension with the 36ers. He was selected as a member of the 36ers' leadership group alongside teammates Mitch McCarron, Daniel Johnson and Robert Franks for the 2022–23 season.{{cite web |title=Four-man leadership group announced |url=https://www.adelaide36ers.com/news/four-man-leadership-group-announced |website=Adelaide 36ers |access-date=6 December 2022 |date=3 October 2022}} Following the 2023–24 NBL season, he joined the East Perth Eagles of the NBL1 West for the 2024 season.{{cite web |title=Sunday Dech returns home to join East Perth in 2024 |url=https://eastpertheagles.nbl1.com.au/news/sunday-returns-home-to-eagles |website=NBL1.com.au |access-date=7 March 2024 |date=7 March 2024}} On 31 May, he recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the Eagles' 90–78 win over the Perth Redbacks.{{cite web|url=https://nbl1.com.au/games/3cf976d8-8f80-11ee-b233-577e4021e131/west|title=East Perth vs Perth|work=NBL1.com.au|date=31 May 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240531153641/https://nbl1.com.au/games/3cf976d8-8f80-11ee-b233-577e4021e131/west|archive-date=31 May 2024}}{{cite web|last=Pike|first=Chris|url=https://nbl1.com.au/article/recap-nbl1-west-or-heritage-round-friday|title=Recap NBL1 West {{pipe}} Heritage Round Friday|work=NBL1.com.au|date=1 June 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611102734/https://nbl1.com.au/article/recap-nbl1-west-or-heritage-round-friday|archive-date=11 June 2024}}

Dech missed seven games during the 2024–25 NBL season due to a hamstring injury.{{cite news |title=Dech says 'full team' is building |url=https://www.adelaide36ers.com/news/dech-says-full-team-is-building |access-date=22 April 2025 |work=Adelaide 36ers Official Website |date=17 January 2025}}

Dech joined the Knox Raiders of the NBL1 South for the 2025 season.{{cite news |title=Knox Raiders – NBL1 Player Signing |url=https://www.facebook.com/KnoxRaiders/posts/pfbid021oxoL9n5ptkuJu6yxmvozE8FQrEQct17QwRijS4oBYnempMHxuv3Svn5kfLBbfqCl |access-date=22 April 2025 |work=facebook.com/KnoxRaiders |date=16 March 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Hersz |first1=Tom |title=Why Sunday Dech landed in Knox |url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/why-sunday-dech-landed-in-knox |access-date=5 May 2025 |work=nbl1.com.au |date=5 May 2025 |language=en}}

On 22 April 2025, Dech signed a three-year deal with the Perth Wildcats, returning to the club for a third stint.{{cite news |title=Two-time NBL champion returns home to Wildcats |url=https://www.wildcats.com.au/news/two-time-nbl-champion-returns-home-to-wildcats |access-date=22 April 2025 |work=Perth Wildcats |date=22 April 2025}}

=National team=

In 2022, Dech was selected to play for the South Sudanese national team in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.{{cite web|title=NBL Stars to Represent USA, South Sudan and New Zealand|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/nbl-stars-to-represent-usa-south-sudan-and-new-zealand|website=NBL.com.au|date=30 June 2022|access-date=30 June 2022}}

Dech was named in South Sudan's final roster for the 2024 Olympics.{{cite web|title=South Sudanese NBL stars to make history|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/south-sudanese-nbl-stars-to-make-history|website=NBL.com.au|date=24 July 2024|access-date=25 July 2024}}

Personal life

Dech's younger brother, Okummu, played for the South West Slammers in the NBL1 West in 2023.{{cite news |title=Goff excited by new arrivals |url=https://www.swtimes.com.au/news/south-western-times/nbl1-west-2023-goff-excited-by-new-arrivals-as-slammers-gear-up-for-new-season-c-10119556 |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=South Western Times |date=22 March 2023 |language=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250403002701/https://www.swtimes.com.au/news/south-western-times/nbl1-west-2023-goff-excited-by-new-arrivals-as-slammers-gear-up-for-new-season-c-10119556 |archive-date=3 April 2025}}

References

External links

[https://nbl.com.au/player/3682/30035/sunday-dech NBL profile]
[https://nbl1.com.au/player-listing/sunday-dech NBL1 profile]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/a-sunday-state-of-mind "A Sunday state of mind"] at nbl.com.au

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Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Adelaide 36ers players

Category:Australian expatriate basketball people in New Zealand

Category:Australian expatriate basketball people in the United States

Category:Australian men's basketball players

Category:Australian people of South Sudanese descent

Category:Barry Buccaneers men's basketball players

Category:Canterbury Rams players

Category:Guards (basketball)