Summer League Stars – Luke Travers
THE NBA Summer League has wrapped up for 2023, and there were plenty of exciting performances from some of the competition’s most recent draftees.
The Summer League is a pre-season tournament in the NBA that provides an opportunity for the best and brightest in the league to showcase their talents, while also giving undrafted prospects a chance to earn a spot on a team’s roster.
This year, the tournament took place in Las Vegas over the past couple of weeks, with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking it all out after an undefeated campaign.
With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at some of the players that delivered standout performances just a few months out from the start of the regular season.
Next up is Aussie Luke Travers, who caught the eye during his campaign as a member of the tournament-winning Cleveland Cavaliers.
Luke Travers
Guard/Forward | 6ft 7in | 207lbs
Travers was drafted by the Cavaliers last year, having impressed as a member of the Perth Wildcats in the NBL. He remained in Australia to continue his development and keep working his way towards joining Cleveland at the top level.
During the Summer League, Travers took his game to the next level, becoming a starter for the Cavaliers as the tournament rolled on, and playing a key role in the championship game.
Over the tournament, the Aussie young gun averaged 7.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and a whopping 2.2 blocks, which was right up there with the tournament’s best.
In the decider, he had a crucial six points, while guarding one of the opposition’s biggest weapons in Cam Whitmore. Travers made life extremely difficult for the dangerous Whitmore, who was restricted to just 14 points on low shooting efficiency, as the Aussie showed a knack for staying in front and contesting every shot.
Travers was a solid enough scorer while ticking boxes in other areas of the game too. As a rebounder, he was excellent at pulling down the ball after an opposition miss, while he proved one of the best shot blockers at the tournament, despite being a fair bit smaller than players who produced similar numbers.
The 2023 Summer League tournament was a massive step forward for Travers, who showed he has the tools to compete and contribute at the top level. His path towards the NBA remains on track, and a few eyebrows at Cleveland were likely raised as a result of his strong play.