Teammate’s touching reaction as Duop Reath continues remarkable rise with new NBA deal

Basketball
Published 17.02.2024
Teammate’s touching reaction as Duop Reath continues remarkable rise with new NBA deal

Duop Reath’s outstanding NBA rise has continued, with the Boomers large man signed on a brand new three-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

It is a well-deserved reward for Reath, who was initially signed onto a two-way deal by the Blazers after impressing within the 2023 Summer League, averaging 13.0 factors and seven.4 rebounds in 5 video games.

Two-way contracts permit NBA groups to hold three further gamers together with the 15 on their common season roster, usually assigning them to their G League affiliate and calling them up if wanted.

Reath although has established himself as a key a part of Portland’s NBA rotation this season, beginning 11 video games and making a complete of 40 appearances whereas averaging 8.9 factors and three.8 rebounds.

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Two-way gamers are eligible to be energetic for as much as 50 of their crew’s 82 common season video games, that means it was all the time going to be a powerful chance that he would have his contract upgraded.

Reath noticed a extra distinguished function after Robert Williams III was dominated out for the remainder of the season with a proper knee damage in November.

The 27-year-old’s outdoors capturing, passing and ground spacing made him the right addition alongside common starter Deandre Ayton, with the rookie capturing 38.5 per cent from downtown.

Sean Highkin reported on The Rose Garden Report that in latest weeks “there were questions about whether Reath and his representatives would be open to a multi-year deal”.

“He’s played well enough this season that he might have had a legitimate market around the league if he had hit free agency, and at 27 years old, this might have been his best chance for a real payday,” Highskin wrote.

That in itself spoke to Reath’s excessive stage of play on each ends of the ground for Portland this season.

While that will have been the case, Reath was eager to remain put and his teammates made it clear on social media they had been simply as glad to see the rookie centre lengthen his contract.

Reath, who was born in South Sudan earlier than his household moved to Australia, detailing his unbelievable journey to Trail Blazers and Boomers teammate Matisse Thybulle earlier this month.