Proctor reveals how 'FIBA Patty' helped prepare him for year two

• Tyrese Proctor says he has never felt better entering his second Cavaliers camp
• He played 50 games as a rookie, averaging 5.4 points in 10.9 minutes
• Proctor trained with Patty Mills in Hawaii for three weeks after two Boomers wins

Sydney guard Tyrese Proctor declared "I'm ready" heading into his second Cleveland Cavaliers training camp this week.

"I feel great," the 22-year-old, 1.93m point guard said.

"This is the best I've ever felt leading into a season. I think it was important for me.

"Obviously, there are a lot stronger guards in the NBA. It's really physical, and I saw that in the playoffs.

"I wasn't playing a whole lot, but just being a spectator and watching. I'm trying to put myself in the best position I can to get minutes and be in that rotation.

"Mentally and physically, to get a full season under my belt, I think 500 minutes or whatever it was last year, and learning off guys like Don (Donovan Mitchell), James (Harden), Ev (Evan Mobley) and all the guys who played with me last year.

"I think I'm just ready for year two."

The Cavaliers drafted Proctor with the 49th pick in 2025 after three years at Duke. He worked his way into the Cavaliers and played 50 games in his rookie season, averaging 5.4 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 10.9 minutes per game.

Proctor is listed as a third-string point guard (Harden and Craig Porter Jr.) and shooting guard (Mitchell and Sam Merrill) on the Cavaliers depth chart, giving him the opportunity to build on his 545 minutes last season and become a genuine rotation role player.

"Just take advantage of every opportunity I get whenever my number gets called on the court," Proctor said.

"I learned a lot last year. Obviously, it was the first time in my career not playing a whole lot.

"With the preparation I've put in and the summer I've had, I'm ready to go out and attack every possession I get."

Part of that preparation was playing for the Boomers alongside new Australian Bryce Cotton.

Proctor averaged 19 points, three rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the Boomers' back-to-back wins against Guam and the Philippines.

"I love playing for my country," Proctor said.

"Whenever I can represent Australia, it means the world to me.

"Obviously, playing at Duke, I didn't represent Australia during my three years there. I put a lot of time into Duke basketball, the program and myself.

"Now that I'm out of that, whenever I can put on the green and gold, no matter if it's a qualifying game, exhibition, World Cup or Olympics, my name's in. I think everyone knows that now.

"I put a lot of work in back home in Australia, working out with my people down there. Obviously, I had the qualifying games.

"Then I was in Hawaii for three weeks with Patty Mills, so I got a lot of reps up out there with him.

"I think I just mentally reset, and I'm ready to attack year two."

Proctor said his time with "FIBA Patty" was invaluable.

"A lot. He taught me a lot," Proctor added.

"Obviously, all the stuff on the court (footwork, technical stuff, balance, base), but a lot off the court, just with the NBA and the environments you play in and stuff like that.

"He's obviously had a great, successful career. He's still playing over in France with Tony Parker and that team.

"It was great to connect with Patty and spend three weeks with him and his family out in Hawaii.

"We'd connected a little bit here and there, but it was my first time being with him for a long, extended period."

The Cavs finished 52-30 last season before being swept by eventual NBA champions New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Proctor revealed he and his Cavs teammates had been building together before training camp.

"I think the camaraderie and the collective effort to come together in the summer, hang out off the court, get to know each other and spend time with each other," Proctor said.

"We were in Phoenix with James. I was there a couple of times. In LA with Don at his camp. We had a couple of mini camps here and then, like you mentioned, the football game.

"I'm trying to get out to a couple more out here and basketball games. It's cool being part of the community in Cleveland, getting to know the juniors coming up.

"I connected with a couple of the guys on the court and stuff like that.

"Like I said, just hanging out off the court. I think that's the most important thing, and it creates success on the court."

The Cavaliers play their first game of the NBA preseason against the Boston Celtics on Friday, October 9 at 10am (AEDT) and their first game of the regular season against LeBron James' Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, October 23 at 10am (AEDT).