Aussie Duop Reath impresses in NBA debut for Portland Trailblazers

Australia could soon have another player in the NBA after Duop Reath made the most of his opportunity, seriously impressing on debut.

Duop Reath impressed on his NBA debut for the Portland Trailblazers (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)

Australia’s Duop Reath has impressed on his NBA debut, looking right at home in Portland’s narrow 116-110 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday (AEDT).

Reath, who played for the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL and was part of the Boomers’ squad that won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, had been picked up by the Portland Trailblazers but was cut from their main squad on the eve of the NBA season.

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After impressing for Portland’s Rip City Remix team in the second tier G-League, the 27-year-old earned a call-up to make his NBA debut against the Lakers.

Reath certainly made the most of his opportunity, scoring 11 points and picking up three assists and three rebounds in an impressive first outing.

His first nine points came via three-pointers and his ability to stretch the court as a big man prompted calls for Reath to be elevated to Portland’s main roster as a backup centre to new recruit Deandre Ayton.

Former NBL star Duop Reath has scored his first @NBA points 🙌

🎥 @trailblazers

pic.twitter.com/RnBPzzcuIT

— NBL (@NBL) November 13, 2023

Some NBA debut for Duop Reath: 11 points (4/10 FG, 3/8 3pt), 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 14 minutes, in the Trail Blazers’ loss to the Lakers today. He was a +11. The Australian Boomers big is on a two-way deal with Portland; getting an opportunity with Robert Williams out.…

— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) November 13, 2023

Don’t look now but Duop Reath looking veryyyyyy comfortable on the NBA floor.

— Peter Hooley (@PeterHooley12) November 13, 2023

I would fully expect Duop Reath to get his contract converted at some point this season. He is a legitimate NBA level backup center who has a specialized skill with his 3 point shooting.

— Tye Forshee (@tyefor) November 13, 2023

Yeah, Reath is our backup C from now on.

— Torey Jones (@ToreyJonesYT) November 13, 2023

Reath could be set to get plenty of minutes with highly rated centre Robert Williams III set to undergo knee surgery and miss a significant chunk of the season.

Reath and fellow Aussie Matisse Thybulle were among six Trailblazers to score 10 points or more, but it wasn’t quite enough to get over the line against the Lakers, who were missing LeBron James due to a calf niggle.

Duop Reath impressed on his NBA debut for the Portland Trailblazers (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)

Anthony Davis had 30 points and 13 rebounds for LA, and he was aided by a Lakers supporting cast including Austin Reaves (18 points), Cam Reddish (18 points) and Rui Hachimura (19 points).

Elsewhere in the NBA, Aussie youngster Dyson Daniels scored a career high 17 points in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 136-124 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Daniels, who is enjoying more court time while point guard CJ McCollum recovers from a collapsed lung, also had nine rebounds and four assists.

Josh Giddey has had a slow start to the NBA season offensively, but he had a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds, six assists) in the OKC Thunder’s 111-99 win over the Phoenix Suns.