Proctor already more than meets the eye

• Tyrese Proctor was selected 49th in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers
• He has impressed in both the NBA Summer League and preseason
• Every game of Proctor's rookie NBA season
• Check out the latest NBA Scores and Schedule here

The Cleveland Cavaliers won 64 games last season and were the top seed in the Eastern Conference but they're arguably better this year.

They have Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, they've invested hundreds of millions into their roster and somewhere in that mix sits Tyrese Proctor, a 21-year-old Australian rookie, who played alongside some of the best college basketball players of his era at Duke University.

Draft Night didn't unfold as expected, at least not on the surface.

Proctor arrived in Cleveland as the 49th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — a year later than many thought he'd go.

He was supposed to leave Duke a season earlier, but instead finished his college career as a fifth option on a championship-contending roster, largely confined to spot-up duties on one of the most talented college teams in recent memory. When draft night came, he fell.

The fall, however, came with a safety net. A reported contract guarantee protected him, he wouldn't disappear and at minimum, he'd get a chance.

With a month already under his belt in the Cleveland system, he’s taking advantage of that chance.

What intrigues observers is what Proctor might become. His jumper has already drawn praise throughout the league.

In Summer League against Sacramento, he dropped 35 points and displayed offensive versatility that impressed scouts and analysts alike, the kind of performance scouts hadn’t seen from him at Duke.

"I've talked to people throughout the league that like this guy. His shot is an NBA skill," Locked On Cavaliers beat reporter, Danny Cunningham, told basketball.com.au.

"Maybe he's not ready in every single area, but the shot is NBA calibre. When I watch it, it looks like it's going in every time.

"I think he showed off more of a well-rounded offensive repertoire than I thought he might have. And the Duke thing is certainly to his advantage because of the guys he played with. It wasn't just the talent on that roster last year, including No.1 draft pick Cooper Flagg.

"He played alongside Jared McCain and Derek Lively across three years there."

The Cavaliers clearly believe Proctor will become a legitimate NBA player, even if not this season.

According to Cunningham, the front office felt "that he went to Duke a year earlier than he should have" and that he still "has to work on his body a little bit".

The college-to-NBA adjustment is significant for most prospects.

"There is for 99% of players that come into the league, there's a big adjustment from playing against college kids to playing against grown men in the NBA. I think Tyrese will have to go through that," Cunningham said.

"The Cavs have been very impressed with what he did in training camp and for the most part in pre-season games. I don't know that it's super fair to expect him to make a huge impact this season, but they're comfortable with him playing if needed.

"I think they see him as somebody who can make an impact, maybe small this year, but they look at him and say this guy's probably going to be a legitimate NBA player for years to come."

Here's the problem for Proctor. The Cavaliers also believe they're going to be a top contender again.

Mobley is arguably the most talented big man nobody discusses, Donovan Mitchell is Donovan Mitchell, Garland has developed into a 40-point threat on any given night and the supporting cast has been methodically assembled to maximise competitiveness now and later.

When healthy, Proctor sits deep in the rotation.

"I'd expect Tyrese to get minutes as a reserve guard that shares time with someone like Craig Porter Jr - that third point guard role on nights when Darius and Lonzo Ball aren't available," Cunningham said.

"He's not exactly a true point guard, but I do think he can get legitimate minutes in that role. From there, it becomes - how does he perform when given the opportunity?"

Most of his playing time will likely come in the G League with the Cleveland Charge.

The Cavaliers have developed something of a pipeline, converting undrafted and late-round picks into valuable role players.

"I'd expect him to spend time in the G League when the team is fully healthy. He's going to be the 13th guy when they're fully healthy, and you can't play 13 guys every night. Professional playing experience is very important for a rookie, and the Cavs are developmental-minded," Cunningham said.

When it comes to fitting in around the organisation, Proctor is off to a flying start.

"In my interactions with him, he's been extremely mature and professional. I don't know if that's how you're wired over in Australia or if it's the Duke programme rubbing off on him.” Cunningham said.

It's showing in the small moments. After a recent pre-season game, Proctor sat next to Mitchell on their flight home, watching film from the previous season. Mitchell walked him through moments that mattered in their Eastern Conference-leading year and Proctor absorbed it all like a sponge.

As his rookie season starts this week, Proctor is in an enviable position. He has a guarantee, a team that believes in him and time to develop but patience will be required.

The Cavaliers are hunting a championship now, and Proctor is a long-term investment in a season where results matter.

The Cavaliers organisation seems convinced he has an NBA future, the real question is what shape that future takes, whether a season in Cleveland and the G League, spent working on his game, sets him up as a steady role player, or whether his trajectory climbs higher still.

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