SNAPSHOT
A crafty guard who can play both positions in the backcourt and certainly has the talent to forge a strong career at the top level, Aussie Tyrese Proctor could be a steal if still on the board in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft in Chicago.
Although he has slipped down the rankings after being a predicted top 10 selection heading into his draft year, Proctor still has the tools in his game to be one of the better guards in the draft class, and used his most recent campaign to sharpen other areas of his game.
DRAFT PROFILE
Born in Sydney, Australia, Proctor attended Trinity High School, where he became an emerging prospect in Australian basketball, attending the NBA Global Academy in the nation's capital of Canberra and was placed on the international radar.
The guard signed on to play with the Duke Blue Devils for the 2022/23 season, and was the team's starting point guard throughout his three seasons with the team. He caught the eye of NBA scouts for his excellent defence and impressive playmaking.
However, the arrival of star prospect Cooper Flagg changed the way the Blue Devils played, and Proctor was asked to play a more off-ball role than previously. Although he had less of the ball, the Aussie used the experience to work on his shooting, which improved in his final season with the team.
During his 2024/25 campaign with Duke, Proctor posted numbers of 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks while shooting 45.2 per cent from the field, 40.5 per cent from behind the arc and 68 per cent from the charity stripe.
STRENGTHS
+ Playmaking
+ Defence
+ Shooting
+ Ability to play both guard positions
IMPROVEMENTS
- Athleticism
- Inside scoring
When Proctor first joined the Blue Devils, he became renowned for his passing, playing a key role in one of the most potent offences in the nation. He still has these traits, and can make difficult passes look remarkably easy while rarely turning the ball over.
He has an impressive wingspan that has become a huge tool on the defensive end, allowing him to limit the opposition's vision and overall production. His IQ on that side of the ball is incredibly evident on the court, and he makes the right decisions to slow down the opposing team.
Throughout the course of his collegiate career, Proctor's shooting has improved out of sight, capped off by a remarkable final season in the NCAA where he shot 40 per cent from behind the arc for the first time in his career. He can seriously impact the game from behind the arc at the top level, which was previously one of the knocks on his game.
Despite being incredibly creative with ball in hand, his lack of athleticism does let him down at times, especially considering he does not have the explosive speed to burst past the opposition, which in turn affects his ability to score at the rim.
DRAFT PROJECTION: Second round
An excellent National Tournament performance all but sealed Proctor as an NBA draftee for 2025, and his playmaking, defence, and shooting upside are all valuable traits at the top level. If he can continue to develop other areas of his game, he could be a massive steal.
