IT WAS an interesting season for Aussie center Duop Reath in Portland, but he made sure to make his opportunities count when assigned to the Rip City Remix in the G League.

After a breakout campaign with the Trail Blazers at NBA level last year, Reath announced himself as one of the Aussies to watch at the top level, having demonstrated that he can certainly perform against the best players in the world.

However, he was forced to ride the bench for much of the NBA season, after the Trail Blazers drafted a center to back up Deandre Ayton in Donovan Clingan, moving Reath back in the pecking order despite a solid campaign last year.

For most of the 2024/25 fixture, he had not managed to register double-digits in the points column and had played 10-plus minutes on just four occasions. However, once the Trail Blazers fell out of playoff contention, the 28-year-old’s opportunities increased, and he averaged 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in the final two months of the season.

It was an awkward spot for Reath, who did not get much playing time at NBA level but did not get to hone his craft at the G League for much of the season, only appearing for Rip City on two occasions. However, when he did hit the court for the Remix, he certainly made an impression, and showed that he is still an NBA-level big man.

He was assigned to the G League at the start of February, ahead of the team’s matchup against the Windy City Bulls. Reath was aggressive with ball in hand, looking to get to his spots as much as possible, and acting more as a scorer than a rebounder at the five.

Although not his most efficient scoring game (shooting 6/18 from the field for 16 points), it was his final play that left a lasting impact. With the Remix trailing by two points with just seconds on the clock, the ball was inbounded to Reath in the corner, who immediately fired off a triple ahead of the buzzer, and when it found the bottom of the net as time expired, the Aussie had won the game for Rip City in stunning fashion.

Reath remained with the team for their next match against the Windy City Bulls the following day, and it was in this contest where he truly showed that he was above the level. In 35 minutes of court time, Reath posted a monster double-double of 36 points (13/28 FG, 4/14 3PT) and 13 rebounds and was the dominant player for the Remix, although they ultimately lost to the Bulls.

Despite the result, it was enough to see Reath recalled to the Trail Blazers in the NBA, where he finished the season as a bench contributor. Although his future with Portland is unclear, he has certainly done enough to justify a contract at NBA level, and has shown he is a player deserving of minutes at the top level.