Tyrese Proctor's turn of fate to be drafted a Cav

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Australian NBA rookie Tyrese Proctor has given an insight into the turn of events which led to the Cleveland Cavaliers selecting him in last year's draft, revealing he had nothing more than a meeting with the franchise.

Speaking on the latest episode of Cut to the Jase with NBL legend Jason Cadee, Proctor opened up on the process leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, where he was picked 45th overall by the Cavaliers after a successful college career at Duke.

The 22-year-old, who celebrated his latest birthday on April 1, said he didn't think he was a chance of landing at the franchise LeBron James made famous after not working out with them before the draft.

But it all worked out considering he signed a four-year deal with Cleveland after he was selected, displaying the franchise's belief in the young New South Wales product.

"You go through the first day (of the draft), obviously didn't get drafted, and I think that whole emotion, that's the one day you dream of as a kid," Proctor said on the basketball.com.au podcast.

"It sort of just gets pushed pushed to the next day. So, you're sort of just sitting there not knowing what to do and then I woke up Sunday, I think it was a Sunday morning, and had spoken to my agents, and they had told me about Cleveland.

"It's crazy because I'd never worked out with Cleveland. So, you do all these workouts and I go to the team that I don't work out for.

"I had a meeting with them. That was my first interview in Chicago at the lottery, it was like the day after they had lost in the playoffs, it was like 8am first meeting of the day.

"So, I think it's it's kind of crazy how you know that stuff works out. My mum always told me everything happens for a reason.

"Once I once I got drafted, I signed the deal, I mean, it's what I've been working for my whole life, but understanding it's just the beginning."

During his rookie season, Proctor has already shown glimpses of the player he can become, especially early on in the 2025-26 campaign where the Cavaliers were riddled with injuries.

He has since struggled for consistent playing time, adding on to that the Cavaliers traded for several guards at the deadline, including Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis and of course former NBA MVP James Harden.

But Proctor has taken it all in stride, learning on the run, which has been easier due to the bond he has developed with Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell.

"We had got connected early, we've got the same agents, so I had spoken to him um during the pre-draft process a little bit just on FaceTime during my workouts and stuff like that and then when I got drafted he called me, so that was our  first sort of interaction for real, Proctor said.

"Then coming to Cleveland, obviously was with him in Summer League, he came out for a couple games, and then coming back from when I got home, I mean, he's just someone I've been able to lean on during this whole process.

"He's sort of showed me the ropes a bit in a sense and we built a great connection early on.

"I think he understands the level that I want to play at and and want to win at and and respects that at a high level and he's a great player. I think he gets under-looked a lot in the league, just being on his team and seeing his daily work ethic, what he does off the court for his body, stuff like that.

"So, I think being around that has been great.

"We watch film all the time together and on the game together all the time just talking.

"It's been really cool having a person that's been in the league, the franchise player, just sort of taking me under his wing and showing me the ropes a little bit."