Samson James Froling (born 10 February 2000)[1] is an Australian professional basketball player for the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays for one season before leaving to play professionally in Australia.
No. 13 – Taranaki Airs | |||||||||||||||
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Position | Center / power forward | ||||||||||||||
League | NZNBL | ||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||
Born | Townsville, Australia | 10 February 2000||||||||||||||
Listed height | 213 cm (7 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 109 kg (240 lb) | ||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||
College | Creighton (2018–2019) | ||||||||||||||
NBA draft | 2020: undrafted | ||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2019–present | ||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||
2019 | Dandenong Rangers | ||||||||||||||
2019–present | Illawarra Hawks | ||||||||||||||
2023 | Levanga Hokkaido | ||||||||||||||
2024–present | Taranaki Airs | ||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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In January 2018, Froling committed to play college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays after receiving offers from programs including Wichita State, Arizona and Maryland.[2] In 30 games for Creighton during the 2018–19 season, Froling averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.9 minutes a game.[3] On 1 April 2019, Froling announced he would be leaving Creighton to pursue professional opportunities in Australia.[4]
On the same day as announcing he had left Creighton, Froling was listed on the roster for the Dandenong Rangers of the Australian semi-professional league NBL1.[4] In 16 games for the Rangers during the league's inaugural 2019 season, Froling averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds a game.[5]
On 6 May 2019, Froling signed a three-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL.[6] His remaining contract with Illawarra was voided when the club was liquidated on 18 May 2020.[7]
On 22 July 2020, Froling re-signed with the Hawks on a new two-year deal.[8] He re-signed to a new three-year deal on 25 February 2022.[9]
On 22 February 2023, Froling signed with the Levanga Hokkaido of the Japanese B.League.[10]
With the Hawks in the 2023–24 NBL season, Froling won the NBL Next Generation Award.[11][12]
Froling is set to join the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) for the 2024 season.[13]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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2018–19 | Creighton | 30 | 0 | 9.2 | .576 | .250 | .385 | 1.9 | .5 | .1 | .4 | 3.6 |
Froling was born in Townsville, Queensland, to Shane and Jenny Froling as the youngest of four siblings. His father played in the NBL for twenty years, while his mother was a four-time champion in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).[14] His sisters, Alicia and Keely, have played together in the WNBL, while his brother, Harry Froling, plays in the NBL for the Brisbane Bullets.[15]