How Cleveland Cavaliers recruit Tyrese Proctor will become NRL’s new US marketing machine

From watching Cronulla at Shark Park to signing a multimillion-dollar NBA deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tyrese Proctor is set to become rugby league's unlikely ambassador in America.

Meet rugby league’s latest - and biggest - recruitment tool that is ready to attract even more Americans to the NRL.

Australia’s NBA draft pick Tyrese Proctor and avid Cronulla Sharks fan has vowed to bring his love for the NRL to the Cleveland Cavaliers locker room, when he commences his journey on the world’s best basketball stage later this year.

Proctor, who grew-up in the Sutherland Shire and is a passionate Cronulla fan, has even suggested including a “Sharks fin” celebration when he starts delivering his trademark three-pointers for the Cavs next season.

Australia’s NBA draft pick Tyrese Proctor and avid Cronulla Sharks fan, at Shark Park swapping jerseys with Cronulla players Blayke Brailey and Nicholas Hynes. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I already spoke to my guys at the Sutherland Sharks (basketball team), where I played my whole junior career, about that being the plan,” Proctor said.

“I came to a lot of games here (Sharks Stadium) and sat in the same seats each game with my uncle and watched the likes of Paul Gallen and Wade Graham play and the physicality they play with, they’re all professionals and that’s something I want to instill.

“I’ll be trying to show my teammates rugby league. I remember for last year’s State of Origin game two, a lot of the boys at Duke started watching it with me at breakfast and we all tuned into it.

“I’ll be doing my best to get the Sharks games live streamed.’’

The six-foot-four 21-year-old scored a dream contract with the Cavs during this year’s NBA Draft after three standout years at revered Duke University in North Carolina.

The Aussie guard penned a four-year $13.2 million deal with the Cavs after the team selected him with the 49th pick.

After swapping jerseys with Sharks players on Thursday, Proctor will attend Cronulla’s home game against the Cowboys in the Shire on Sunday before leaving for the US next month to commence his lifelong basketball dream.

He said he has taken advice from good friend, Bendigo-born and Atlanta Hawks guard, Dyson Daniels on managing the pressure, spotlight and intense expectation of the NBA.

Proctor has vowed to bring his love for the NRL to the Cleveland Cavaliers locker room. Picture: Getty Images

“I’m best friends with Dyson Daniels, he came off a great year and I’m always talking to him about different things that come with the game, on and off the court,” Proctor said.

“I’m definitely keeping my feet on the ground, managing your money is very important.

“You make so much money, you can lose it just as quickly, so I’m going to have the right people around me and use it in the right way.

“You see a lot of the guys that come in and out of the NBA so quickly and I’m really honoured to be able to sign that contract and I definitely have plans to get my second contract and continue to stick in the NBA.”

Proctor believes the Cavs are the perfect club for him to build and become a polished NBA player. He can’t wait to play alongside the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley and compete for a title.

Originally published as How Cleveland Cavaliers recruit Tyrese Proctor will become NRL’s new US marketing machine