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:
- 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: Sydney 2007 | Townsville 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 one season in the NBL. He averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 33 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 45th 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 | 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 | 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% | 0.8 | 2.3 | 33.8% | 3.0 | 4.4 | 68.5% | 56% | 52% | 30 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 30 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
|---|
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.
Rowland played games in the NBA. He averaged 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists per game over his NBA career.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Latvia - Barons LMT (2005–2006), VEF Rīga (2012–2013) | Germany - Artland (2007–2008), Bonn (2008–2009) | Italy - Vanoli Cremona (2009–2011) | Spain - Unicaja Málaga (2011–2012), Montakit Fuenlabrada (2019–2020) | Turkey - Banvit (2013–2015), Eskişehir Basket (2017–2018) | Israel - Hapoel Jerusalem (2015–2016) | Russia - Khimki (2016–2017) | Iran - Chemidor B.C. (2021–2022) | Poland - GTK Gliwice (2022–2023) | France - JL Bourg (2023–2024)
After seeing little action off the bench in the NBA D-League, Rowland signed with Barons LMT for the 2005–06 Latvian League season.
He then spent the 2006–07 season in NBL with the Sydney Kings but got released midseason. He would finish the season with the Townsville Crocodiles
After spending the 2006/07 season in Australia he signed a deal with the Artland Dragons in Germany and played the remainder of the 2006-07 Basketball Bundesliga season.
He returned to Artland Dragons for the 2007–08 German Bundesliga season and won the German Cup.
He joined Telekom Baskets Bonn for the 2008–09 German Bundesliga season and helped the club reach the Bundesliga finals while averaging 13.6 points and 3.4 assists per game.
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.
He joined Vanoli Cremona for the 2009–10 Italian Serie A season and averaged 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists before averaging 13.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 2010–11.
He joined Unicaja Málaga in July 2011 on a two-year deal for the 2011–12 Spanish ACB and EuroLeague season and averaged 7.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 14 EuroLeague games.
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.
He joined VEF Rīga for the 2012–13 season in Latvia and led the VTB United League in scoring with 17.0 points per game while being named VTB League MVP and winning the Latvian league title.
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.
He joined Banvit for the 2013–14 Turkish season and helped the club win the Turkish league regular-season title before continuing into the 2014–15 season.
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.
He joined Hapoel Jerusalem for the 2015–16 Israeli season and averaged 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals while the club finished as Israeli League runner-up.
On August 23, 2016, Rowland signed with Russian club Khimki for the 2016/17 season.
He joined Khimki for the 2016–17 season in Russia.
On July 17, 2017, Rowland signed with Turkish club Eskişehir Basket for the 2017/18 season.
He joined Eskişehir Basket for the 2017–18 Turkish season.
On February 1, 2019, he has signed with Montakit Fuenlabrada of Spanish Liga ACB.
He joined Montakit Fuenlabrada for the 2019–20 Spanish ACB season and averaged 6.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 11 games.
On March 1, 2021, Rowland signed with Chemidor B.C. of the Iranian Basketball Super League.
He joined Chemidor B.C. for the 2021–22 Iranian Basketball Super League season.
He joined GTK Gliwice for the 2022–23 Polish Basketball League season and averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists across 27 games.
He joined JL Bourg for the 2023–24 season in France and reached the EuroCup Finals in 2024.
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)
- VTB United League scoring champion (2013)
- VTB United League Hall of Fame (2019)
- German Cup winner (2008)
- Latvian League champion (2013)
- Latvian League Playoff MVP (2013)
COACHING HISTORY
EJ Rowland moved into college basketball coaching immediately following his professional playing career.
In 2024, Rowland returned to Saint Mary's as an assistant coach and spent two seasons on Randy Bennett's staff.
In April 2026, Rowland joined Arizona State as an assistant coach.
Related
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