NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks add 2021 Niagara River Lion to roster 

The Milwaukee Bucks, winners of the 2020-21 NBA Championship, announced Thursday that they have signed Javin DeLaurier to a 10-day contract. DeLaurier becomes the first player to have played with a Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) team and later added to an NBA roster.

DeLaurier has appeared in 12 games with the Bucks NBA G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, this season, averaging 7.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 17.0 minutes. He signed with the Herd on September 27, 2021 following his 2021 CEBL season with the Niagara River Lions. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 14.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 26.4 minutes with the River Lions and was named to the All-CEBL First team after Niagara advanced to the CEBL Championship game.

“We are incredibly happy for Javin as he signs his contract today becoming the first CEBL player to move on to the NBA”, said Mike Morreale, CEO and commissioner, of the CEBL. “As a league we celebrate Javin’s achievements and thank him for making our league a stop along his basketball journey. We can’t wait to tune in.”

The CEBL currently has ten players on NBA G League rosters. They include Lindell Wigginton, Wisconsin Herd, (Hamilton Honey Badgers), Xavier Moon, Agua Caliente Clippers, (Edmonton Stingers), Cat Barber and Justin Jackson, College Park Skyhawks (Guelph Nighthawks), Xavier Sneed, Greensboro Swarm, (Niagara River Lions), Jaylon Tate, South Bay Lakers (Niagara River Lions), Demarcus Holland, Delaware Blue Coats (Saskatchewan Rattlers), Nino Johnson, Salt Lake City Stars (Hamilton Honey Badgers),Trevon Duval, Grand Rapids Gold (Hamilton Honey Badgers, and Jabari Craig, Motor City Cruise (Hamilton Honey Badgers).

The CEBL begins its fourth season in May 2022. A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram , Twitter , TikTok , LinkedIn , Facebook & YouTube .