Sampson, currently suiting up in the NBA G League with the Iowa Wolves, joins Newfoundland ahead of their inaugural 2022 season.

The Newfoundland Growlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced today that the club has signed American guard Brandon Sampson for the upcoming 2022 CEBL season.

A six-foot-five guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sampson is currently suiting up in the NBA G League with the Iowa Wolves, the minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 30 appearances this season for Iowa, the 24-year-old is averaging 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.

Since turning pro back in 2018, Sampson has since spent the majority of his playing career within the G League, but has played in the NBA on 14 occasions, all during the 2018-19 season with the Chicago Bulls. After signing a two-way contract with Chicago in December of 2018, he made his NBA debut on January 30, 2019, putting up five points in a 105-89 win over the Miami Heat.

Splitting the 2018-19 G League season between the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Windy City Bulls, Sampson had his best statistical campaign as a pro, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game across 37 games played with the two clubs. After returning to Rio Grande for the 2019-20 season, Sampson played for the Delaware Blue Coats during a pandemic shortened 2020-21 season where he made just six appearances before ultimately being dealt to Iowa this past October.

Before beginning his professional career, Sampson played three seasons in the NCAA with his hometown team, the Louisiana State University Tigers, where he was a part of the 2015 recruiting class alongside Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons. His 2016-17 sophomore season was his best as a Tiger as he averaged 11.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in 31 contests.

Prior to committing to LSU, Sampson attended Madison Prep in Baton Rouge where he led his team to the state championship in his senior year. For his efforts, he earned “Mr. Basketball” honours for Louisiana in 2015, an annual award given to the top high school male basketball player in the state.

Sampson becomes the fifth player to sign with Newfoundland ahead of the upcoming 2022 season.

Season ticket deposits for the Growlers inaugural season are on sale now at growlersbasketball.ca Fans are kindly asked to email [email protected] for any questions or ticket related inquiries.

Newfoundland opens its season with a pair of weekend home games, beginning first on Friday, June 3 against the defending champion Edmonton Stingers, followed by a clash with the Ottawa BlackJacks on Sunday, June 5.

All CEBL regular season games will be live streamed on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and CEBL+.

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