Cleveland Cavaliers Rookie Tyrese Proctor: ‘I WANT TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP THIS TEAM’

Cleveland Cavaliers Rookie Tyrese Proctor: ‘I WANT TO DO WHATEVER I CAN TO HELP THIS TEAM’

What did that mean? Did you take the graph? What have you taken out of it since you’ve been here? Yeah. Uh it was a it was a long experience, long journey. Uh but it was great, you know, getting on the phone with the guys straight away and um coming over here a couple days after and I’ve been loving it ever since I got here. Um they all welcomed me with open arms and it’s been great couple practices so far. I know you haven’t met them yet. also what does that do to have someone who follow that to have? Yeah, it’s great. I’ve spoken to him before um not recently but you know when he comes back obviously connect and you know obviously both from Australia so that’s really big for for people back home but I’m just picking his brain. He’s been through a few years and I’m just seeing what he can you know help me um to get me my game up to the highest level. What was draft night like for you? Like what were your emotions like getting a call from the cast? Yeah, it was a lot of emotions. I mean, see the hard work you’ve been putting in in the gym for hours and hours, days, years. Um, so it was really cool. Stayed out in LA with my family. Um, so I had all my family fly over from Australia and um, just with the people that was sort of with me my whole journey um, throughout high school, throughout Duke. Um, but it was a really special night. In what ways on the floor do you think that your game? Yeah, I think just space on the floor. I think I’m a really good shooter. Um, I think I showed that last year at Duke and just playing off the ball, playing different positions. Um and then just defensively keep growing, keep learning defensively and um just try and you know impact winning as much as I can. How do you think that in your time at Duke playing multiple different roles in your three years there helps you make the transition to the NBA maybe a little bit easier than had you just done 10? I think the biggest thing is just playing with really good players. Um my three years, you know, had guys like Derek Lively, Kyle Philowski, obviously most recent starting five getting drafted. So, um, I think just being able to adapt and sort of pick your niche on the court and and be really good at that. Um, allowing, you know, the other players to be really good at what they do and, um, allow all of you to play together to get wins. You gotten any advice from some of those guys that you played with years prior pro about what it’s like? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it’s obviously very different. You know, I speak to Dive all the time, uh, me and Flipper close, Jared. Um, so I mean, you know, I’m best friends with Dyson. Um, so it’s just transition’s obviously tough at first, but you know, once you get into it, um, just stick to your daily habits, daily routines, and just keep getting 1% better every day. You’re going to be able to get some work in at summer league, obviously. What are you looking to showcase, and maybe what are some of the areas that you’re looking to to really focus on working on? Yeah, I think I mean, it’s four quarters, so just adapting to the game. Uh, obviously very different to college. Pace of the game, spacing is a lot different, obviously a bigger court. Um, but just going out and playing free. Um, you know, just playing with the guys I’ve been working out with now. And I’m just having a good time obviously learning the game and just keep getting better every game I play. Omar said that the lesson was the the key for you is just to shoot. Mhm. For you. How does how good does it feel for them to just say they want you to shoot the ball? They they want you to put it out. Yeah, it feels great. Um you know, that’s what I do and uh when you have that sort of green light, I mean, you just have even more confidence behind you and um you know, my teammates and coaches all trust me to shoot the ball and and make the right read. So um that’s what I got to do. What was your um pre-draft interactions like with the Cavs? Did you spend time with them? Did you get to know him well? Yeah, so I met with them in uh Chicago at the at the combine. Um so met with them there. Um and then yeah, I didn’t I didn’t have a workout with them, but met with them there. Had really good really good talk there. And then when it came to uh draft night, um you know, some some guys get two-way contracts. You got a standard contract, multi-year contract. Um, how much did that factor into the process of you going to the C? Yeah, I mean, you know, I’m really blessed to be able to, you know, be in that position and, um, I think I’m coming into a great organization. Obviously, they had a heck of a year last year, came up short, and, um, I think just trying to get back to that that winning culture here and, um, continue to succeed. So, you never know when you get drafted, you’re going to go to a winning team, a team that’s, you know, trying to get there. with you coming into a playoff team, um how do you think you can make an impact and what kind of opportunity do you see even as a road? Yeah, just doing whatever I can to get on the floor and stay on the floor. Um I think defense is a big one no matter where you go. I know that’s what coach Shai preached to me at Duke. Um and then like I said, just spacing the floor, being an outlet off different guys, DG Don, you know, obviously primary ball handlers and get a lot of attention and you know, just trying to play off them and just help the team overall. How much did you change physically in your three years at Duke and and how how much more room is there for you? Yeah, a lot more room. Um I think I mean from freshman and junior year it’s I mean you can you can just tell by the way I played on the floor. Um put a lot of work in off the court and obviously in the weight room nutrition um but still got a ways to go. U obviously you know met with people here and still want to get a lot stronger stronger base and um just see see where it takes me. How much you mentioned it changed the way you play. How does getting stronger change the way you play for? Yeah, I mean you can be more physical, hold your ground more. Um, you know, longer game, so you know, when your legs get fatigued, be able to get under your legs in your shot. Just little things that, you know, subconsciously you might not think of, but I mean, the results will show it. So, I think just small things like that. Now that you’ve made it to the NBA, going over from Australia to Duke, playing those three years, just looking back on how you got here, what does that mean to you and and how do you think that helped you just kind of taking that time? Yeah, I think I’ve been on a a unique journey to say the least. Uh, obviously, you know, from the academy to to the to Duke a year early. Um, sort of finding my way in the rotation and group and obviously not having the best, you know, first couple years and just coming through this year working hard in the summer and having a having a really good year. Um, and just building up that momentum wise, confidence wise, and um, just doing whatever I can to help this team. I know that mentally it’s probably hard to block out external pressure when that comes with it, but but how do you handle that personally just uh as far as championship expectations, being a fivestar, you know, all that stuff? Yeah, I mean, you go through that at Duke. Obviously, it’s extreme in the NBA now, but I sort of been through that already and understand how my certain ways to block out that sort of stuff. And I think the biggest thing for me is just keeping my circle small and and close net. You mentioned uh the Duke starters getting drafted. How much pride did you take in that as a group and what have you guys been you guys kind of talked to each other about how draft how the two draft nights went for you? Yeah, I mean it was a goal that we had um start of the year. We all talked and said if we wanted to get where we wanted to go just play together and you know the rest will take care of itself and obviously really close with all those guys and we all spoke after the draft and still speak to this day and um I mean just really proud of him. I mean the work shows off and I thought we had such a great team and great group and uh it’s really cool to see us all go. Tyrese, one of the things that people said about you leading up to the draft, they talked about your maturity and your readiness and stuff like that. In what way do you feel like playing in Australia then going to Duke has prepared you for what’s ahead here? Well, Australia is a a different type of brand of basketball. Um, from an early age, they teach the game a little bit differently and then transitioning over here, it’s a lot more fastpaced. Um, just quicker reads. So, I think being at Duke for 3 years, sort of seeing, you know, the ins and outs of the game, um, obviously was a transition at first, but I think just going through, you know, big time games for Duke, every game the lights are on you, um, is one thing that will sort of carry over to the NBA, um, you know, every game in the NBA is a big time game and a big time night. You’re probably eager to meet everybody and get to know all your teammates, but is there someone in particular that you’re maybe looking forward to the most, picking their brain? Um, I think Don. Uh, I was on the phone with him after I got drafted. Um, so we spoke for a little bit, but you know, he’s a great player and um, just seeing his, you know, daily work and his habits, I think he’s going to be really cool to just be a sponge from. What was his message to you? You said, what was his message to? Just welcome. He was just welcoming me. Uh, we had spoken before, but um, obviously when when I got my name called, he called me and um, we just we just talked for a little

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie guard Tyrese Proctor meets with the media for the first time in a Cavs uniform. The Duke standout and Australia native talked about his experience in the NBA Draft, getting the call from the wine and gold and more.

Proctor also spoke on what the team wants him to work on at NBA Summer League, what he wants the showcase and what it’s been like playing with high expectations all his life.

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Welcome to Cavs On SI! We are associated with the On SI network through the Sports Illustrated Media Group. We’ll cover all of the latest Cleveland Cavaliers news and share our opinions and analysis with live streams and postgame reactions throughout this season.

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more coverage of the Cavaliers, and be sure to follow our comprehensive Cavs coverage through the On SI network here:

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