15

Nov

Rookie Season

'Talented as heck': Cavs coach on Proctor's rookie swag

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basketball.com.au

'Talented as heck': Cavs coach on Proctor's rookie swag
'Talented as heck': Cavs coach on Proctor's rookie swag

Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on November 12, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Photo: Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

Highlights

The Aussie rookie continues to impress in his rookie NBA season with Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson has continued to heap praise on Aussie rookie Tyrese Proctor as the former Duke Blue Devil impresses in his debut season in the NBA.

The praise came after Cleveland's 130-116 road win over the Miami Heat on November 13, which they did without stars Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.

Proctor, 21, played 23 minutes and had 12 points, going 2-from-8 from the three-point ling, along with two rebounds and two assists in the victory.

The Sydney product, who signed a four-year deal with the Cavaliers, is averaging 5.5 points while playing 12.5 minutes per game so far this season.

"Tyrese is just talented as heck," Atkinson said post game.

"He handles, he can shoot, he's got gumption, he's got swag, I think he's going to play in this league a long time.

"He's so skilled and a tough kid, he was great for us."

The comments come after a Cavaliers veteran told Atkinson it felt like Proctor belonged in the NBA and following last season's Coach of the Year saying he was "all in" on the point guard.

Following the win, Atkinson also praised other players who stood up for the shorthanded Cavaliers, which included fellow Aussie and two-way forward Luke Travers. The former Perth Wildcat and Melbourne United star played 12 minutes and had four points and four rebounds against the Heat.

"Listen it's great sign of a good program, when you have young guys who haven't been playing then all of the sudden they can come in and get an NBA win," Atkinson said.

"We all know the cost of NBA win, it's hard, it's hard to get a win... I just thought about all the hard work those guys did all summer."

Proctor and the Cavaliers fell to a 126-113 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

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