Duke Star Tyrese Proctor Ignites Buzz: Rising Draft Stock, Skill Breakout & What’s Next

Cleveland – Less than a month after the Cleveland Cavaliers plucked Tyrese Proctor with the 49th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-5 Australian guard is already turning Las Vegas into his personal showcase. In Tuesday’s 94-86 Summer League defeat to the Sacramento Kings, Proctor erupted for 35 points, drilling six threes, flashing advanced pick-and-roll craft and finishing through contact—an eye-opening performance that had scouts buzzing on press-row and Cavaliers decision-makers grinning courtside. The outburst came on the heels of Cleveland officially inking the former Duke standout to a four-year, $8.9 million contract that contains two fully-guaranteed seasons and a pair of team options. Because second-round selections rarely secure multi-year guarantees, the deal underscores Cleveland’s belief that Proctor can carve out a rotation spot sooner rather than later. Early returns support that confidence. Through three games in Vegas, Proctor is averaging 24.7 points, 6.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds while shooting a blistering 48 percent from deep. His ability to toggle between primary table-setter and off-ball shot-maker has instantly stabilized a shorthanded Cavs squad that is resting fellow rookie lottery pick Zeke Marshall. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who sat baseline for Tuesday’s contest, praised Proctor’s poise: “He never looks sped up, whether he’s using a snake dribble to create space or firing skip passes to the weak-side corner,” Bickerstaff told local reporters after practice. Proctor’s rapid acclimation isn’t entirely surprising. The 20-year-old spent three collegiate seasons under Jon Scheyer at Duke, where he evolved from a defensive specialist into a lead guard adept at orchestrating hand-offs and manipulating drop coverage. Scouts pegged him as a late first-round talent, but a minor hamstring tweak at the Combine cooled some front-office enthusiasm and allowed Cleveland to pounce at 49. Team sources insist the hamstring is 100 percent healed, a claim backed up by his blistering first-step and above-the-rim finishes this week. Fit is another reason optimism is skyrocketing. The Cavaliers have long searched for a reserve playmaker who can spell Darius Garland without sacrificing perimeter size or defensive tenacity. At 6-5 with a 6-8 wingspan, Proctor brings switchability on the perimeter and has already notched five steals in Vegas, frequently jumping passing lanes and triggering transition chances. Offensively, his willingness to fire off the catch should mesh with Donovan Mitchell’s downhill attacks when the stars share the floor. Looking ahead, Proctor is expected to appear in at least two more Summer League games before the Cavs shut him down and turn their attention to training camp. If his current trajectory holds, the rookie could force his way into the opening-night rotation, potentially nudging veteran Ricky Rubio for backup minutes or enabling three-guard lineups that keep the floor spaced for Evan Mobley post touches. Bottom line: Cleveland may have unearthed a second-round gem. With a team-friendly contract secured, a statement game already in the books and an adaptable skill set tailor-made for modern NBA spacing, Tyrese Proctor is quickly transforming from draft-day flyer into one of the most intriguing rookie storylines of the summer.