US Version
For the last two seasons DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell has shown himself as one of the best players to ever play in the Danish Basketligaen. The American, who has roots in Trinidad & Tobago, came straight out of college at Illinois State where he played for two seasons before he made the move to the Danish squad Bakken Bears where he has played his first two professional seasons.
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell has been very succesful in his two seasons in Denmark where he has been a dominating player for Bakken Bears in the Danish League as well as in Europe. Therefore he has been rumored to clubs in the biggest European leagues as well as China.
None of those leagues will have the privilige to get Akoon-Purcell at this moment as he has signed a contract to play for the Denver Nuggets during the NBA Summer League.
“The Nuggets has been following me since January of my last season in Bakken all the way through the playoffs and were impressed with what they saw,” DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell told Fullcourt.dk.
The NBA teams uses the Summer League to give some young guys and other possible additions the chance to showcase their talents ahead of the regular NBA season. There is no guarantees to get a final spot of the NBA roster, but it is a chance to get closer to the ultimate basketball dream – to get to play in the NBA.
“It is a big step for me and something I have been preparing for since I have been home. It has always been a dream of mines so now that it is in my face I have to take advantage of it and make the best out of the situation.”
A seal of approval of the Danish League
No other player has ever taken the step from the Danish League direct to the NBA Summer League, which is a clear seal of approval of the development of what the Danish League has been a part of the last couple of years, led by the Danish champions Bakken Bears who recently made it to the semifinals of the FIBA Europe Cup.
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell and the rest of the Bakken Bears squad showed the ability to play with great European teams, but nevertheless a even greater challenge awaits for the former Bakken star player at the NBA Summer League.
“I look at this challenge just like I look at every other challenge that comes my way. Work hard and prepare for it and show the world that I am capable of doing things people did not expect me to do. It is a great opportunity and I cannot wait to showcase my talent,” he told Fullcourt.dk before he finished the interview with his statement hashtag:
“#Mandatory”.
You can see some of DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell’s greatest highlights of his last campaign in the FIBA Europe Cup where DAP did not show any mercy at all to the European defenders.
Jeg er sidens Basketligaredaktør og har været en del af Fullcourt-holdet siden 2014. Jeg kommer fra den basketglade by Svendborg, men har siden 2013 boet i København, hvorfor du ofte kan finde mig i hallen til basketkampe i Storkøbenhavn.
