In the lost match in Los Angeles, Duop Reath had a good performance with 11 points (three award-winning baskets), 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in just 14 minutes on the floor.
“He had a good match,” estimates Chauncey Billups for The Oregonian. “He is a pivot who can move away so I drew actions for him because I knew that the defenders would be far from him. We did a good job finding it. And he fought like crazy. »
A first match at 27
But this part is not trivial for the 27-year-old. It was indeed his first game in the NBA! Obviously a special moment for the Australian pivot. “It’s a blessing to be here. There have been ups and downs and it’s all part of this long journey.”comments the basketball player, born in South Sudan.
After two seasons in the NCAA, at LSU, between 2016 and 2018, Duop Reath failed to enter the NBA. He therefore traveled, passing through Serbia and China, with freelance work in Summer League, in 2019 with Brooklyn or 2022 with Phoenix. “He never gave up”delivers his teammate to the Blazers and selection Matisse Thybulle.
Signed in September by the Blazers, the pivot was cut before the start of the regular season. Before finally being called back with a “two-way contract”. After a few minutes to get the temperature in the G-League (a game with 37 points and 10 rebounds), he finally got a taste of the NBA in Los Angeles.
Matisse Thybulle moved for his teammate
“It’s obvious that having played well a few days ago helps,” continues the coach. “Everyone has confidence in him. No one was surprised by his performance in the G-League. I was just waiting for him to come with us. »
This first match is therefore both the start of a new adventure but also the end of another for Duop Reath, that of its arrival in the league. Five years and thousands of miles after leaving college.
“NBA fans often don’t see what it took for a player to get to this point. It may seem simple, but it’s not to know the story of a player, what he did and the stages he went through to become what he is. assures Matisse Thybulle. “I’m happy to see that it’s paying off. He made his first match, scored three times from 3-point range and defended well. I was almost moved while watching it. »
| Duop Reath | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | POR | 1 | 14 | 40.0 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 11.0 |
| Total | 1 | 14 | 40.0 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 11.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
