8
Oct
Aussies in the NBA
Spida's senses tingling over 'tenacious' Tyrese Proctor
Cleveland Cavaliers teammates Tyrese Proctor and Donovan Mitchell slap hands during NBA Media Day at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 29, 2026 (AEST). Photo: Nick Cammett/Getty Images.
Highlights
Seven-time All-Star says the Boomers guard is stronger and coming in like last year never happened
- Donovan Mitchell says Tyrese Proctor has attacked preseason with "tenacity and hunger"
- Proctor played 50 games as a rookie, averaging 5.4 points in 10.9 minutes
- He spent three weeks in Hawaii with Patty Mills after two Boomers wins
Australian Boomer and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Tyrese Proctor has attacked his second NBA preseason with "tenacity and hunger", seven-time All-Star teammate Donovan "Spida" Mitchell has revealed.
Mitchell, 30, said after practice today: “There's a tenacity and a hunger about him that I wouldn't say wasn't there last year, because he had a really good year last year when he was called upon. But I feel like he's coming in like last year never happened. You know what I mean?
“That's huge for a guy that came in and really played well in his spot time – I mean, starting and whatnot.
“He's gotten stronger. He's picking myself and James (Harden) up full court. He's kind of taking that Jaylon Tyson role last year, when I was telling you all about it.
"He's kind of taking that identity upon himself, which is really great to see.
“He's working out with me. He's working out with James. He'll probably text me in about 20 minutes about some film from practice. You know what I mean?”
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 ahead of the 2026-27 season, giving him the opportunity to build on his 545 minutes last season and become a genuine rotation role player.
The Sydney-born point guard averaged 19 points, three rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the Boomers' back-to-back wins against Guam and the Philippines before spending time with "FIBA Patty" Mills in Hawaii in the off-season.
"I put a lot of work in back home in Australia, working out with my people down there," Proctor said during his media day interview.
"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 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).
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