Pros and cons of Cleveland Cavaliers taking Tyrese Proctor of Duke basketball in 2025 NBA draft
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Duke basketball's Tyrese Proctor was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 49 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft on June 26 in Brooklyn, New York.
Proctor, who scored more than 1,100 points in three seasons with the Blue Devils, joins Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Sion James as 2025 draft selections. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game as a junior.
Proctor was at his best in the first two games of the NCAA Tournament, draining 13 treys against Mount St. Mary's and Baylor. He scored 25 points, including seven 3-pointers, in the win vs. the Bears.
Here’s what Proctor brings to the NBA.
Tyrese Proctor positives
In his final season at Duke, Proctor had his most consistent year yet. A consistent knockdown shooter from 3-point range, Proctor became one of the best catch-and-shoot players in the nation. He shot a career-best 40.5% from 3-point range and also maintained his reputation as one of the top on-ball defenders, often taking on the toughest assignment. He's also an underrated passer.
Tyrese Proctor concerns
Proctor had a tendency to go rogue at times, attempting to make plays in one-on-one situations with ill-advised mid-range jumpers or contested layups. He also struggled in two of Duke's biggest tournament games, averaging 3.5 points on 12.5% shooting in season-ending losses to N.C. State and Houston. Physically, Proctor has the height but needs to add some muscle to combat the bigger players he'll be facing in the league.
Final thoughts on Tyrese Proctor’s NBA future
Proctor has the length, shooting and on-ball defense to carve out a role in the NBA. As long as he stays within himself and sticks to what brought out his best at Duke, the Aussie guard has a chance to be a rotation player for a contender. He has to add more weight to stick around as a viable option.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cleveland Cavaliers pick Duke basketball’s Tyrese Proctor in 2025 NBA Draft
