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JaKarr Sampson is back in the NBA system after signing a deal with the Sacramento Kings this weekend.
Sampson, 24 and entering his fourth year in the NBA after two season with St. John’s, will catch on with the Sacramento on a "two-way" contract - allowing Sampson to shuttle between the "minors" (the "G-League") and the NBA Kings (up to 45 days in the NBA) while he works on his game. Congratulations to Sampson.
The deal comes after Sampson averaged 7.5 points per game as well as just over five rebounds a game for the Sacramento Kings in the Las Vegas Summer League. Sampson’s best game came against Milwaukee, where he tallied nine points and seven rebounds in only 23 minutes.
In the NBA, he’s known as a multi-positional athletic role player who is a fan favorite wherever he goes - with his dunks and positivity on the bench.
Last year in the G-League, the Akron native became a Western Conference G-League All-Star with the Iowa Energy (now the Iowa Wolves), the G-League affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Sampson averaged over 15 points per game, and connected on almost 50% of his field goals.
Back in 2010, before he signed with St. John’s, ESPN reporter Paul Biancardi noted that Sampson “is an extra-long combination forward that is very athletic. Defensively, Sampson is a good shot blocker capable of defending multiple positions.”
Upon leaving St. John’s, Sampson signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, and at times their G-League affiliate, appearing in 74 games with 32 starts.
After his time in Philadelphia, Sampson signed with Denver during the 2015-2016 season.
In his time across the NBA, Sampson has hovered at five points and two rebounds per game.
Sampson left Queens for the pros after two successful seasons for the Johnnies where he averaged just under 15 points per game as well as over six rebounds a game. Sampson won the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2012-213, a year after Moe Harkless won the same award.
Sampson was originally part of the loaded 2011 recruiting class that was ranked third in the nation. The class also featured Sir’Dominic Pointer, Harkless, Phil Greene IV, D’Angelo Harrison, Amir Garrett, and God’sgift Achiuwa.