6
Oct
Training Camp
Tyrese Proctor: 'It feels like he belongs' in NBA
Sydney-born Australian men's basketballer Tyrese Proctor. Photo: Jason Miller/Getty Images
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Cleveland Cavaliers veterans say Australian rookie Tyrese Proctor “looks like he belongs” in the NBA
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Sydney-born Tyrese Proctor "belongs" in the NBA, a Cleveland Cavaliers veteran told head coach Kenny Atkinson just days into the Ohio franchise's 2025 training camp.
"One of the vets said to me today — he said, 'You know, Tyrese, he looks like he belongs',” Atkinson revealed.
"And a lot of times with rookies, you know, you’re like, 'Do they really belong?' Right now, it feels like he belongs.
"The question with Tyrese right now is, is he gonna be able to handle the physicality? It’s not his skill level — that’s high enough. His compete level’s high enough.
"This year’s probably gonna be a year where he’s really gonna build his body.
"He’s gonna push us to make decisions."
Proctor, 21, exploded for 35 points in just 28 minutes in the 2025 Summer League in Las Vegas in July to announce his arrival. He took 24 shots and made 11 including four threes on 14 attempts. He hit all nine of his free throws. The Cavs lost 94-86 to the Sacramento Kings.
The point guard, who starred at the Duke Blue Devils alongside No1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, was taken with the 49th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He signed a four-year, $8.69 USD million deal (AUD $13.2M) with the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 2, 2025.
Proctor talked through his first NBA training camp last weekend.
"It was positive," he said.
"Obviously stuff I can clean up on and stuff like that. But I mean, it’s my first run on an NBA floor with NBA players.
"And they all said, you know, I had a great Summer League, and I felt like I had a great Summer League.
"And like I said, obviously, there are areas to improve on, but I think it was a good first step for me.
"I think winning — that’s the biggest thing. You know, obviously coming from a program like Duke, winning’s relied on heavily.
"And, you know, I want to be known for just being a winning player, and just, you know, whatever program, whatever organisation I’m at, I want to be known for winning."
