Travers Ready For High Expectations

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Luke Travers is confident he can use his impressive NBA Summer League performance as a springboard to bigger and better things in the NBL.

The 20-year-old was arguably the standout of the Australian contingent in Las Vegas, and is now ready to make his mark in front of the Red Army.

His new team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, happy to watch from afar as Travers continues his strong development in Australia.

“I think coming back over here, it's just (having) confidence,” Travers said on his first day back at the Wildcats.

“I've got more of that experience, just knowing that I can mix it with those type of guys (in the NBA). To come back here, hopefully it translates.”

Travers will be more pivotal than ever to Perth’s chances in NBL23, bouncing back from a campaign in which they missed the finals for the first time in 35 years.

With a new coach, John Rillie, the return of arguably the league’s best player, Bryce Cotton, and the weight of expectation after a disappointing year, all eyes will be on the Wildcats and of course, Travers.

“Obviously (I’m) just super excited to be back now. (We) fell short last year, and it's definitely something that stays in the back of your mind, I think it has with everyone,” he said.

“So I'm just looking forward to getting back to a championship level.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Defense into offense.<a href="https://twitter.com/luke_travers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@luke_travers</a> ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/RubeNembhard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RubeNembhard</a> <a href="https://t.co/A4KK2fPiBK">pic.twitter.com/A4KK2fPiBK</a></p>— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) <a href="https://twitter.com/cavs/status/1547699639670829057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Travers averaged eight points, five rebounds and two assists a game last season, across 22 minutes, but will expected to step things up even further this season.

It’s a responsibility he’s happy to take on.

“I think that's something I just have to do, as I get older,” he added.

“You’ve just got expect more of yourself. With the experience as well, the expectations are at an all-time high.

“Obviously, my job is to help this team win a championship, so I'll do my best job. I think that the results will take care of itself.”