Self-Belief Driving Dech to New Heights

Adelaide wing Sunday Dech almost feels like part of the furniture in the NBL, but that wasn’t always the case. The now 29-year-old two-time champion has had to fight tooth and nail to gain his foothold in Australia’s premier basketball competition.

A late-comer to basketball, Dech won a title with the Wildcats in 2014 as a development player before embarking on a three-year collegiate career.

Upon his return from Barry University of the NCAA second division, it was far from smooth sailing.

“The academic side was pushed by my parents very hard because they never had the opportunity to study,” Dech said on the ABPA's The Grind.

“Coming over here they saw education as a gateway to push forward and excel our lives.

“I flew to Cairns straight away [after college] to work out with them, it didn’t work out in Cairns so then I flew down to Brisbane and worked out with the Bullets, it didn’t work out there.

“At the time I thought I did great and was definitely ready to be an NBL player, but the opportunity wasn’t there.

“It was a tough pill to swallow but it’s the reality of the business we’re in … I knew I was an NBL player. I believed it and all I wanted was a chance to prove myself.”

Following his failure to earn a roster spot with the Taipans or Bullets, Dech returned to Perth as a train-on player for NBL19.

Injuries to key members of the squad meant Dech would play 10 games for the season – plus two playoff games – en route to another title before leaving for Illawarra, where he found himself behind Next Star LaMelo Ball and import Aaron Brooks on the depth chart.

Sunday Dech playing for the Perth Wildcats in 2019.

After his solitary season in New South Wales, Dech has since found himself a home in Adelaide.

Over the past three seasons he has played 87 times for the 36ers and and finished third in the Most Improved Player Award.

“One of them could have been not getting a contract early on and going to Perth to be a training player,” Dech said of his biggest career challenges.

“The second one could be not playing as soon as I got to Illawarra and having to work my way back up.

“Those two challenges enabled me to not be complacent, not to be happy just being here – but to want more and seek more for myself.

“And when the opportunities came, just to grab them and run.”

Dech and the Adelaide 36ers will open their NBL24 campaign on Friday, September 29 against the Brisbane Bullets.