The Perth Wildcats have signed Sunday Dech on a three-year deal. It marks a third return to the franchise for Dech who played for them previously from 2013 to 2015 and during the 2018–19 season. It also marks a general homecoming for Dech who was raised in Perth after moving there as a child with his family as refugees from Ethiopia. Dech has overcome remarkable difficulties in both his life and basketball career to exist as an exemplar of determination.

Dech spent the last five seasons with the Adelaide 36ers where he experienced complete tumult through changes both in his player role and the team’s coaching systems. The 36ers had four head coaches during Dech’s tenure and all four had varying interpretations of his contributions. Dech arrived in Adelaide from the Illawarra Hawks only by the misfortune of the latter; his two-year contract that he signed in 2019 was voided in 2020 when the Hawks entered liquidation. It was a fortunate happenstance for the 36ers who were able to pick up a player who had experienced a breakthrough season while playing alongside LaMelo Ball.

In Adelaide, Dech first played under Conner Henry who utilised Dech as a starter alongside rookie Josh Giddey during the 2020–21 season. Henry was fired at the season’s conclusion and his replacement, C.J. Bruton, maintained Dech as a starter during the 2021–22 season. Dech subsequently accumulated a career-best output with 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Although a subpar shooter in general (never averaging above 39% in field goals across his NBL career), Dech was an imposing 3-and-D specialist who could be assigned as a lockdown on the opponent’s best offensive threat but be relied upon to hit open three-point shots.

The 36ers then made the decision to bring in a pairing of import guards for the 2022–23 season which shifted Dech to the bench. The arrivals of Antonius Cleveland and Craig Randall II – who was later replaced by Ian Clark – alongside Mitchell McCarron saw Dech playing in a reserve role for the first time since his Wildcats days and a drop in his output to 7.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Dech stayed on the bench for the 2023–24 season when the 36ers added Trey Kell III and Dejan Vasiljevic. The team was in chaos under Bruton which culminated in his sacking and his replacement, Scott Ninnis, being controlled by team executives with who to play. This saw a pitiful affair where Dech and Jason Cadee were told that they were no longer in the team’s rotation. It lasted one game (where the 36ers lost to the 5–8 Cairns Taipans) until Dech and Cadee were allowed to return. The disorder resulted in career lows across the board for Dech with 4.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1 assist per game with 32.6 field goal and 23.4 three-point percentages.

Ninnis was fired in 2024 and replaced by Mike Wells who found a reliable role for Dech that enabled him to find some normality again. He averaged 5.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists this last season. Throughout it all, Dech has maintained his reputation as a firm defender who is able to stifle opponents with his light quickness and unexpected strength. Hopefully the assurance of a regular role with the Wildcats will see him regain his confidence in his offensive abilities.

The return home for Dech is a great decision for him. He joins a Wildcats team looking for a new identity with the departure of Bryce Cotton and he will undoubtedly be tasked with team leadership. Dech has shown his abilities through his participation with the South Sudanese national team and was an essential component in helping them to qualify for their first appearance in the Olympics last year. Dech is a solid pick-up for the Wildcats and a wonderful story of resolve.

Best wishes to Dech on his homecoming.