Greg Vanderjagt
July 23, 2020
EJ Rowland
- Nationality: USA/BUL
- Date of Birth: 18/05/83
- Place of Birth: Salinas, California (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 191
- Weight (KG): 93
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: CSU Dominguez Hills (2001–2002) / Hartnell (2002–2003) / Saint Mary's (2003–2005)
- NBL DEBUT: 22/09/06
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 16/02/07
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 23
- NBL History: Townsville 2007 | Sydney 2007
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Ej Rowland was born in Salinas, California (USA) where attended Palma High School.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Ej Rowland made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 23 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.
EJ Rowland joined the Townsville Crocodiles midway through the 2006/07 season, replacing American import Jelani Gardner (15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists), who was released after 14 games. Rowland (12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.0 steals) provided Townsville with immediate athleticism, perimeter defense, and playmaking at the point guard position across 21 games.
His arrival complemented a reshaped Crocodiles roster that had already undergone major offseason changes. Robert Rose departed to Cairns, and Casey Calvary also exited the club. Daniel Egan (via Brisbane) filled Rose’s role, while Gardner had been signed earlier in the year to support a backcourt anchored by Brad Newley (22.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists). With Rowland, the team now featured a balanced rotation that included frontcourt stars Larry Abney (21.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals) and John Rillie (19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists).
Rowland quickly slotted into the starting five and helped lift Townsville to a 19–14 regular season record, good for fifth on the ladder. His ability to push tempo, break down defenses, and guard multiple positions proved valuable across the stretch run of the season.
In the elimination final against the Singapore Slingers, Rowland (13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists) recorded a triple-double and was instrumental in the Crocodiles’ 106–93 win at the Townsville Entertainment Centre. He was well supported by Larry Abney (30 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 steals), John Rillie (26 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists), and Brad Newley (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists). Daniel Egan (14 points, 4 rebounds) also chipped in off the bench. The Slingers were led by Mike Helms (20 points, 8 rebounds) and Ben Knight (21 points, 17 rebounds).
Townsville’s playoff run ended in the quarter-finals with a 122–89 loss to the Sydney Kings at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Rowland (17 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals) was one of the Crocodiles’ few bright spots, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-5 from three-point range while playing 33 minutes. Kelvin Robertson added (21 points), while Mark Worthington (28 points, 6 rebounds), B.J. Carter (20 points), and Russell Hinder (17 points, 6 rebounds) led the way for Sydney.
Across his 21 games with the Crocodiles, Rowland (12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.0 steals) made an immediate impact and was one of the most dynamic mid-season additions in the league. His playoff triple-double and ability to lift the team in key moments made him a crucial part of Townsville’s return to the postseason.
Ej Rowland played two seasons in the NBL. He averaged 12.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 33 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 43rd in steals per game.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 23 | Sydney | 20-13 (4) | 12 | 362.0 | 158 | 40 | 37 | 11 | 29 | 24 | 1 | 34 | 39 | 61 | 129 | 47% | 17 | 49 | 35% | 27 | 43 | 63% | 53% | 54% | 30 |
| 2006-07 | 23 | Townsville | 19-14 (5) | 21 | 664.0 | 270 | 110 | 100 | 19 | 91 | 42 | 0 | 54 | 62 | 90 | 189 | 48% | 9 | 28 | 32% | 73 | 103 | 71% | 57% | 50% | 30 | Totals | 33 | 1026 | 428 | 150 | 137 | 30 | 120 | 66 | 1 | 88 | 101 | 151 | 318 | 47.5% | 26 | 77 | 33.8% | 100 | 146 | 68.5% | 56% | 52% | 30 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 23 | Sydney | 20-13 (4) | 12 | 30.2 | 13.2 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 10.8 | 47% | 1.4 | 4.1 | 35% | 2.3 | 3.6 | 63% | 53% | 54% | 30 |
| 2006-07 | 23 | Townsville | 19-14 (5) | 21 | 31.6 | 12.9 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 9.0 | 48% | 0.4 | 1.3 | 32% | 3.5 | 4.9 | 71% | 57% | 50% | 30 | Total | 33 | 31.1 | 13.0 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 9.6 | 47.5% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.8% | 0.8 | 2.3 | 68.5% | 56% | 52% | 30 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 30 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
After gaining Bulgaria citizenship Rowland was invited to try out for the one naturalized player spot on the senior Bulgarian national basketball team in 2009. He earned selection to play for Bulgaria at EuroBasket 2009 iand led all players n minutes played, while averaging 17.7 points per game. Despite his efforts, the Bulgarians finished 0–3 and were eliminated in the group stage.
NBA EXPERIENCE
After going undrafted in the 2006 NBA draft Rowland began his professional career in the D-League with the Florida Flame.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Germany - Artland (2007–2008), Bonn (2008–2009) | Iran - Chemidor B.C. (2021-2022) | Israel - Hapoel Jerusalem (2015–2016) | Italy - Vanoli Cremona (2009–2011) | Latvia - Barons LMT (2007), VEF Rīga (2012–2013) | Russia - Khimki (2016–2017) | Spain - Unicaja Málaga (2011–2012), Montakit Fuenlabrada (2019–2020) | Turkey - Banvit (2013–2015), Eskişehir Basket (2017–2018) | USA(NBDL) - Florida (2005–2006)
After seeing little time during his NBA D-League experience with the Florida Flame EJ signed to play with Barons LMT in Latvia.
After spending the 2006/07 season in Australia he signed a deal with the Artland Dragons in Germany and played this last third of the 2006-07 Basketball Bundesliga season.
In 2008/09, shifted teams and played for German team Telekom Baskets Bonn. Rowland led the team to the finals of the Bundesliga and averaged 13.6 points and 3.4 assists per game.
In July 2011 he signed a two-year deal with Unicaja Málaga in Spain. After unsuccessful season for himself and team, Unicaja decided to go another direction and loaned Rowland to Latvian champions VEF Rīga.
In Latvia E.J. had a breakout year and while playing for VEF Rīga during the 2012-13 season ,Rowland led the VTB league in scoring with 17 points per game and was named VTB League MVP. At the end of the season Rowland moved to Turkey, signing lucrative deal with Banvit.
On January 7, 2015, in a EuroCup away game against Budućnost Podgorica, he was involved in a on-court incident. With two minutes of game time remaining, a hooligan ran onto the court, in order to hit Sammy Mejía of Banvit, after which Rowland punched the hooligan fan in retaliation. After the brawl, the referees ejected him from the court. He was fined by Euroleague Basketball (which organizes the EuroCup) for taking part in the incident, with a 30,000 euros fine. On August 12, 2015, Rowland signed a one-year deal with the Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem.
On August 23, 2016, Rowland signed with Russian club Khimki for the 2016/17 season.
On July 17, 2017, Rowland signed with Turkish club Eskişehir Basket for the 2017/18 season.
On February 1, 2019, he has signed with Montakit Fuenlabrada of Spanish Liga ACB.
On March 1, 2021, Rowland signed with Chemidor B.C. of the Iranian Basketball Super League.
COLLEGE
Rowland played college basketball at CSU Dominguez Hills during the 2001–02 season before transferring to Hartnell College, where he competed in 2002–03, then finished his NCAA career at Saint Mary’s (CA) from 2003–04 to 2004–05.
Rowland began his college career with CSU Dominguez Hills. As a freshman with the Toros, he averaged 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while starting 24 of 27 games.
During that 2001–02 season at Dominguez Hills, he played 27 games and started 14 times, was second on the team in assists and fourth in scoring and rebounding average, scored in double figures 12 times, hit 20 points twice, and had a season-high 26 points against San Francisco State, along with season highs of eight rebounds and six assists.
Dominguez Hills’ cumulative team statistics for 2001–02 list Rowland with 27 games played, 60 turnovers (2.2 per game) and 62 personal fouls (2.3 per game), while the program’s career records credit him with 53 steals in 2001–02 (tied for the school’s single-season lead).
Following this season, he transferred to Hartnell College, a two-year community college in Salinas, California. In his only season with the team, he led the squad in points, assists, steals, and free-throw percentage en route to being named Coast Conference Player of the Year and earning All-State honours.
At Hartnell in 2002–03, Rowland led the Panthers to a 24–12 overall record before falling to eventual state champions Los Angeles City College, and he topped the team in scoring (18.3 points per game), assists (5.6 per game), steals (2.7 per game), and free-throw percentage (83.2%), while also averaging 5.2 rebounds per game and shooting 44.4% from the field.
Rowland’s Hartnell season also included First Team All-Coast Conference recognition, California All-State honours, an All-American Metro-Index nod, and a Hartnell single-season school record of 203 free throws made.
Rowland finished his college career with two years of NCAA basketball at St. Mary’s (CA) where he teamed with aussie Daniel Kickert. He had two successful seasons with the Gaels, leading the team in assists in both his years there. Following his senior season, he earned honorable mention All-WCC.
Saint Mary’s announced on June 10, 2003 that Rowland had signed to join the Gaels after transferring from Hartnell Junior College, with head coach Randy Bennett noting he would help fill a need at point guard after leading Hartnell in scoring during the 2002–03 campaign.
In his first NCAA season at Saint Mary’s (2003–04), he averaged 13.3 points, 4.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, led the team with 130 assists and 47 steals, and logged a team-high 32.0 minutes per game while ranking among the WCC leaders in assists per game and steals per game.
That 2003–04 season included WCC All-Tournament Team honours after he averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds across two WCC tournament games, plus WCC Player of the Week recognition on February 23 and a DoubleTree Classic All-Tournament Team selection.
Among his 2003–04 highlights, Rowland set a season high with 22 points against Loyola Marymount on January 31 (including 9-of-10 free throws), recorded his only double-double of the season against Arizona on December 17 with 11 points and a career-high 10 assists, and produced 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists against Pepperdine in the WCC Tournament semifinal game.
In his senior season at Saint Mary’s (2004–05), he again led the Gaels in assists, was named honorable mention All-WCC, and was part of a Saint Mary’s team that finished 25–9, went 11–3 in WCC play, and earned an NCAA Tournament berth in 2005.
Across his two seasons at Saint Mary’s (2003–05), he appeared in 63 games and started 57, averaging 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game overall, with his 2004–05 season line listed at 11.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
AWARDS
- VTB United League MVP (2013)
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VTB United League scoring champion (2013)
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VTB United League Hall of Fame (2019)
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German Cup winner (2008)
-
Latvian League champion (2013)
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Latvian League Playoff MVP (2013)
Related
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