For Proctor, being drafted is not just an individual accomplishment, but one that represents the future of basketball in his hometown.
A dreary day welcomed Tyrese Proctor back to Cronulla as August began, as one of Australia's newest NBA players returned to the place that helped kick-start his professional career.
Following a three-year stint with NCAA heavyweights Duke University, Proctor heard his name called in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, one of four Australians to realise their hoops dreams this year.
But before becoming a Cleveland resident, and preceding his time in Durham, the Australian began his basketball career in the Shire, as a member of the Sutherland Sharks.
For Proctor, being drafted is not just an individual accomplishment, but one that represents the future of basketball in his hometown.
"I think Sydney has a long way to go in basketball, I think we can do so much more here to get a basketball scene," Proctor told Sporting News Australia.
"Melbourne is a big spot where basketball's popping right now, so hopefully in the next couple of years we can get Sydney rolling just like it."
As his debut season in the NBA quickly approaches, Proctor's return home has been a welcome reset for the 21-year-old before he relocates to Ohio.
"I'm extremely happy, you know, it's a place that I missed a lot and it's great to see all familiar faces, see all my friends and family and, and just be home, there's no other feeling like it," Proctor said.
"The last few months have been crazy, just moving spots to spot, working out, and then to hear my name called was a special feeling."
His name was called at the 49th pick, which saw him officially become a Cleveland Cavalier.
Fresh off a 64-win season, followed by a disappointing playoff exit marred by injury, the Cavaliers brought in the Australian guard to bolster their backcourt stocks, giving Proctor the chance to learn from some of the league's most dynamic guards - names like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and the recently acquired Lonzo Ball.
"[I'm excited to] just soak everything in, seeing the daily work, daily habits... everyone's a professional athlete now, so just seeing the routines and the work that they put in on a day-to-day basis and just taking as much information as I can," Proctor said.
"I'm super excited to be going into a great organisation, a winning program."
Proctor will also be joined by fellow countryman Luke Travers, who the team drafted in 2022, and will hope to follow in the footsteps left by another Boomers icon, Matthew Dellavedova.
"I've spoken to Luke a couple of times, we crossed paths a couple of times here and there, but it'd be definitely cool to connect with him when I get back to Cleveland," Proctor said.
"I spoke to Delly a little bit, [he's] another guy that I'll definitely speak to more in the future."
These connections to Australian basketball are links that Proctor hopes will define his career, with a chance to represent the Boomers already high on his priority list, with a FIBA World Cup and Summer Olympics in the not-too-distant future.
"I can't wait, I never take for granted whenever I can wear green and gold and hopefully sooner than later," Proctor said.
But the Boomers aren't the only brotherhood that Proctor treasures, with his teammates at Duke University a large part of his journey to this point.
Alongside Proctor, Duke players Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Sion James were all drafted, marking the first time since 2012 that an entire NCAA team's starting five were selected in the same draft.
These relationships were clear on the court, but they were equally close off of it, something that he is eager to continue as they all enter the professional ranks.
"[Seeing my Duke teammates drafted] was crazy, our whole starting five got drafted, we're all still in a group chat to this day, and we all connect," Proctor said
"Even with my first team when I first got to Duke to the team last year, we all still stay in touch and that brotherhood is still in tune."
Tyrese Proctor vs Baylor today to send Duke to the Sweet 16!!!
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) March 23, 2025
25 PTS (9-10 FG, 7-8 3PT)
3 AST
I felt like he was a pro after his freshman season.. how we feelin??? pic.twitter.com/irUxlLej6n
But out of all his former Duke teammates, there is one above all Proctor is eager to take on, one he has been close with since before college.
"Khaman Maluach, that's my little brother, and you know we had great, great matchups in practice, but I think just seeing his development and his path, we started together early on [at the NBA Global Academy] and split and then came back to Duke together, so I think that would be one I'm looking forward to," Proctor said.
He may be about to begin his next step as a full-time athlete in the United States, joining the world's top basketball league.
But as Tyrese Proctor stood in the rain at Shark Stadium in Cronulla, chatting about his love for Paul Gallen and how he convinced his college teammates to watch State of Origin, it was clear that where his journey began would always define who he was as an athlete.
Category: Basketball
