Australian basketball star Tyrese Proctor is embracing every experience thrown at him as he prepares for his rookie NBA season with some downtime at home in Sydney.

That includes shooting hoops with juniors at his old club, the Sutherland Sharks, and feeding the giraffes at Taronga Zoo, where his whole family was invited as a homecoming gift.

The 21-year-old signed a four-year NBA contract worth at least $US3.4 million ($5.25 million) with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and reflected on how his success was built from heartbreak.

Sydney-raised NBA player Tyrese Proctor with Jimmyu the giraffe at Taronga Zoo.

In April 2024, Proctor was as low as he had been after shooting 0-9 as his highly favoured Duke University team was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by North Carolina State in front of an audience of millions.

The Blue Devils have a following bigger than several NBA teams, and that spotlight can turn harsh when you fail to perform.

Proctor was expected to test his NBA Draft chances last year, as some scouts rated him worthy of a first-round pick, which carries a multimillion-dollar guaranteed contract.

NBA guard Tyrese Proctor is about to begin his rookie season with the Clevelan Cavaliers but first he came home to the Sutherland Sharks in Sydney.

”It was a really dark time for me,” Proctor said.

“Just mentally. I think I shot 0-11 or something. I had a really bad finishing game and had a lot of ups and downs that season.

“I got hurt in early November with my ankle, which kept me out for a month, and to finish the season like that – I told my coach in the locker room after that last game that I was coming back [next season].

“That’s just me as a competitor, me as a person. That’s not being satisfied, and I’m super grateful, super blessed that they were willing to have me back.”

Tyrese Proctor was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Proctor put his own game under the microscope and, with the help of a Canada-based mental coach, he put work into that side of his game.

“I’m still working with my mental coach to this day, and I felt like it helped me tremendously this past season at Duke,” Proctor said.

“I wanted to be open-minded to it as I hadn’t done anything like this at all. I said: ‘Why not?’ I ended up loving it. We have a great connection.”

Proctor also stayed off his social media accounts for the whole season.

Tyrese Proctor met the wildlife at Taronga Zoo.

Proctor enjoyed his best season with the Blue Devils, who fell agonisingly one game short of the NCAA Tournament final, losing 70-67 to University of Houston.

Proctor was able to flip his tournament script on his struggles a year earlier, hitting seven three-pointers and making nine of his 10 shots overall in a 25-point outburst against Baylor. He also had 17 points against Alabama in Duke’s Elite Eight win.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer became emotional after the Baylor game as he praised Proctor.

“We would both say his sophomore season didn’t go the way we wanted,” Scheyer said.

“That’s where it is easy to split. I wasn’t in a convincing mode, I was matter-of-fact about where I saw him. The difference for a guy in his position is that he took it, as opposed to making excuses.

“That’s the special thing about him, making seven threes and being our key guy after going through all these moments.”

There is a clear bond between the pair.

“I remember his first phone call to me in my bedroom in Sydney – he’s only been honest with me,” Proctor said.

“Seeing him get emotional was a really special moment, he understood the work that was put in behind the scenes.”

Proctor was also one of four Australians selected in the NBA Draft, and ended up in the best playing situation as the title-contending Cavaliers targeted Proctor and offered him a multi-year deal to be one of their backup guards.

With Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss the season as they recover from ruptured Achilles tendons, the Cavs are among the favourites to win the Eastern Conference.

His new home in Cleveland has water views that remind him of Sydney, albeit of Lake Erie rather than the ocean.

“I’m going in open-minded and want to take everything in because the vets, the coaches have been there before,” Proctor said.

Aussie basketballer Tyrese Proctor mixes with juniors at his old club Sutherland Sharks.

“I want to connect with those guys. I think I play a great brand of basketball, and I can fit in there really well.”

On a return to the Sutherland Sharks, Proctor recalled his side rarely won during some seasons, and that made winning at the NBA Academy and then Duke feel even more special.

“Growing up in the Shire, I came up not winning a lot of games,” Proctor said.

“So I really cherish winning basketball.”

Tyrese Proctor returned to his junior club Sutherland.

He aims to return to the Boomers side ahead of the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar and LA 2028 Olympics.

Above all, he wants to repay his parents Rod and Melissa for helping him reach the NBA.

“A lot of people have poured time into my career and me as a person. Dad is my biggest critic but also my biggest fan,” Proctor said.

“It’s hard at college with so much stuff going on and that’s only going to grow in the NBA but having that platform, that ability to still be able to see them a lot and give back - that’s a big thing for me.“

With Frances Howe

Post Related

Post Related