Buru Naivalurua’s NBA dream demands a grind

• Tuburu Naivalurua aims to become the first NBA player of Fijian descent
• Interior efficiency and physicality translate better than shooting or creation
• NBA Draft unlikely, but G League and Summer League remain realistic pathways
• NBL and international pro leagues loom as strong alternative outcomes

Before Tuburu "Buru" Naivalurua left Australia on his quest to become the first NBA player of Fijian decent he already faced adversity.

Naivalurua was caught in the Sydney COVID lockdown after earning a scholarship to the Garden City Community College (JUCO).

Since then the now fifth-year senior has transferred to NCAA Division 1 mid-major college Oakland University and is posting numbers that give him at least a shot at a G-League, an NBA Summer League invite, which could lead to a two-way contract.

He is now a leader for Oakland and is embracing the role.

"For me, it’s just reassuring the guys on a lot of things — the concepts we run here, how we do things here, and also the coaching style of this staff. Because I’m sure if you’ve been to any of the games, they light people up all the time," he told The GioMoShow.

"So for me, it’s making sure they understand that nothing the coaches say is ever personal, even if it comes off that way.

"It’s never personal. I let them know what it was like for me when I first started, what it was like for Jack, what it was like for Trey, for Blake — all of those things.

"It’s really just being that supportive, reassuring voice in the locker room. When Campy’s meeting you yelling, the world’s not ending, the sky’s not falling. We’re OK. That’s just how they coach, that’s how they get their message across.

"That calms us down, gets us in the right frame of mind, and then we go out and play."

The bottom line for Buru if he is to achieve his NBA dream he's going to have to grind it out.

What part of Naivalurua's game does translate to the NBA

1. Physical profile

• 1.98 m, 98 kg forward with JUCO + D1 mileage
• NBA teams will note frame, strength, durability, not age-group dominance
• Size is adequate, not elite, for an NBA forward

2. Production jump at D1

• 2024–25 and 2025–26 show sustained double-figure scoring
• 13.9 PPG (33 mpg) → 13.5 PPG (32.7 mpg)
• That establishes baseline offensive viability, not star usage

3. Interior efficiency

• Career 52.2 FG%, JUCO 62.2 FG%
• Shows finishing ability, strength around the rim
• NBA teams value this as a role skill, not a creator indicator

What doesn’t translate cleanly

1. Usage ceiling

• Career 0.9 AST, peak 2.2 AST
• Low playmaking for an NBA forward
• Profiles as a finisher, not a decision-maker

2. Shooting profile

• D1 31.3% from three, 2025–26 at 28.0%
• NBA threshold for draftable forwards is typically ≥35% on volume
• This is the biggest limiting factor

3. Defensive indicators

• Stocks (STL + BLK) are solid but not elite
• No advanced metrics showing switchability or rim deterrence
• NBA teams look for one standout defensive calling card

Draft reality

Based on historical NBA Draft patterns:

• Not a current NBA Draft lock
• Unlikely to be drafted without:
  • Shooting jump
  • Defensive specialisation
  • Elite athletic testing numbers

However:

• These numbers do translate to:
  • Summer League interest
  • G League / Exhibit 10 consideration
  • International pro opportunities (NBL, Asia and Europe)

Most realistic NBA-adjacent pathway

If framed correctly, his profile fits:

• G League big wing / small-ball 4
• Energy finisher role
• Developmental shooter

That’s where JUCO to D1 to pro success stories most often live.

Naivalurua began his collegiate career at Garden City Community College, where he played 30 games and averaged 14.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 62.2 per cent from the field, 38.7 per cent from three-point range and 68.5 per cent from the free-throw line.

He later transferred to Division I at Oakland University, where he has appeared in 79 career games. Across his Division I career, Naivalurua has averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game, shooting 52.2 per cent from the field, 31.3 per cent from three and 62.7 per cent from the line.

During the 2025–26 season, he is averaging 13.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game through 11 appearances.

2022-23 Garden City Community College (JUCO)

Games: 30 │ Games Started: 30 │ Minutes: 32.7 mpg
Points: 14.8 ppg │ Rebounds: 10.2 rpg │ Assists: 2.9 apg
FG: 186–299 (62.2%) │ 3PT: 12–31 (38.7%) │ FT: 61–89 (68.5%)
Offensive Rebounds: 3.5 │ Defensive Rebounds: 6.7 │ Total Rebounds: 10.2
Steals: 1.2 │ Blocks: 1.9 │ Turnovers: 2.2
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 1.3
Points per 40 minutes: 18.1

2023–24 — Oakland (D1 Horizon League)‍

• Class: Junior │ Position: Forward
• Games: 35 │ Games Started: 1 │ Minutes: 12.6 mpg
• FG: 1.3–2.7 (50.5%)
• 3PT: 0.0–0.0 (100.0%)
• 2PT: 1.3–2.6 (50.0%)
• eFG%: 51.1%‍
• FT: 0.6–1.2 (50.0%)
• Off Reb: 1.7 │ Def Reb: 1.7 │ Rebounds: 3.3
• Assists: 0.3 │ Steals: 0.4 │ Blocks: 0.7
• Turnovers: 0.4 │ Fouls: 1.7
• Points: 3.3

2024–25 — Oakland (D1 Horizon League)‍

• Class: Senior │ Position: Forward
• Games: 33 │ Games Started: 33 │ Minutes: 33.1 mpg
• FG: 5.7–10.2 (55.5%)
• 3PT: 0.1–0.2 (33.3%)
• 2PT: 5.6–10.0 (55.9%)
• eFG%: 55.8%‍
• FT: 2.5–3.8 (65.9%)
• Off Reb: 3.1 │ Def Reb: 4.0 │ Rebounds: 7.1
• Assists: 1.2 │ Steals: 1.0 │ Blocks: 0.7
• Turnovers: 1.9 │ Fouls: 2.1
• Points: 13.9

2025–26 — Oakland (D1 Horizon League)‍

• Class: Senior │ Position: Forward
• Games: 11 │ Games Started: 11 │ Minutes: 32.7 mpg
• FG: 5.6–12.5 (45.3%)
• 3PT: 0.6–2.3 (28.0%)
• 2PT: 5.0–10.2 (49.1%)
• eFG%: 47.8%‍
• FT: 1.5–2.3 (68.0%)
• Off Reb: 2.1 │ Def Reb: 3.6 │ Rebounds: 5.7
• Assists: 2.2 │ Steals: 1.4 │ Blocks: 0.7
• Turnovers: 1.4 │ Fouls: 2.1
• Points: 13.5

While his scorer is slightly down, so are his shots from last season but he said it was part of the Oakland's system this year.

"So it’s been an adjustment, not scoring as much as I wanted to going into the season, but it’s resulting in my teammates getting a lot of open looks, a lot of other guys being able to play one-on-one, and just overall team success," he said.

"It’s been tough, but it’s helped us ultimately. If teams want to play us like that, that’s fine. We have four other guys that will light the nets up now."

Career — Oakland‍

• Games: 79 │ Games Started: 45 │ Minutes: 24.0 mpg
• FG: 3.7–7.2 (52.2%)
• 3PT: 0.1–0.4 (31.3%)
• 2PT: 3.6–6.8 (53.5%)
• eFG%: 53.1%‍
• FT: 1.5–2.4 (62.7%)
• Off Reb: 2.3 │ Def Reb: 2.9 │ Rebounds: 5.2
• Assists: 0.9 │ Steals: 0.8 │ Blocks: 0.7
• Turnovers: 1.2 │ Fouls: 1.9
• Points: 9.2

While his numbers don't shout 2026 NBA Draft pick, his dream of playing in the NBA is still a reality but the path is tough.

"I guess in a sense, just like Fijian culture and Pacific culture in general, to give back is like the biggest thing you can do," he told the ABC back in September 2021.

"To be able to give back to everyone definitely will make everything that much more sweet.

"If I can maybe inspire some other Fijian kids to play basketball as well, it's something I want to do, because there are a lot of very athletic Fijian kids".

If it doesn't work out, the NBL always needs quality bigs and Buru definitely fits the bill.