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Perth Wildcats star Luke Travers reveals emotions about being drafted to NBA by Cleveland Cavaliers

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Craig O'DonoghueThe West Australian
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Luke Travers has gone from Rockingham Flames to Perth Wildcats to the NBA.
Camera IconLuke Travers has gone from Rockingham Flames to Perth Wildcats to the NBA. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

Perth Wildcats star Luke Travers has described getting drafted into the NBA as a dream come true after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

Travers was chosen by the Cavaliers with the 56th pick in Friday’s draft. The 20-year-old from Rockingham watched the draft from Los Angeles after travelling to the US for a seven-week tour around the country visiting teams. He learned of his selection when his name appeared on the TV screen after the coverage returned from commercials.

“I saw the graphic on the screen. It was cool to see that,” he said.

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“I was at home with one other guy and he was upstairs but he quickly came rushing down when it happened.

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“It’s a bit surreal. You hear people say they are speechless afterwards and I get that now. I’m over the moon to have this opportunity. It is pretty cool.

“To know now that I can give back to Rockingham as a town and club is unreal.”

Travers has since spoken to Cavaliers staff and will prepare to move to Cleveland to play for their Summer League team in July. His contract and chances of being on the main roster won’t be finalised until he spends time with team.

Luke Travers.
Camera IconLuke Travers. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Travers met with eight NBA teams during his time in America and said his performance in front of the Cavaliers had him feeling optimistic.

“If it wasn’t my best workout, it would have been my second best,” he said.

“I was pretty confident after that one. It was the second team I worked out in front of so I got the first one out of the way and became more comfortable. It was definitely one of my best workouts.

“I just want to put my best foot forward for Summer League now. The work is just starting now. I’m not promised anything. I will do whatever the team wants from me.”

Travers celebrated with his family over the phone but hasn’t been able to contact his dad Karl who is a FIFO worker and is currently in Darwin.

His Wildcats teammates have also been in contact.

Cleveland has a strong Australian history with Matthew Dellavedova part of the 2015-16 championship-winning team alongside LeBron James.

Travers said he’d always followed Cleveland closely.

“I know the squad pretty well. I know their history,” he said.

“I grew up as a big fan of LeBron so any team he was on, I was going for. Delly was there too.

“All the coaches raved about Delly when I worked out with them. They’re a young team now and hopefully I can be part of that in the long run.”

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