Tyrese Proctor is officially joining the NBA, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are betting big on his future. After a standout college career at Duke, Proctor was selected with the 49th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He signed a four-year, $8.69 million contract, with the first two years guaranteed, a partial guarantee in the third year, and a team option in the fourth.
The Cavaliers, eager to strengthen their backcourt, see Proctor as a key piece in their rotation, and his journey to the league is a story of resilience, patience, and belief, both from himself and from Duke head coach Jon Scheyer.
Proctor enters the league with a full-time NBA roster spot and a real opportunity under coach Kenny Atkinson. While the Cavaliers are excited about his potential, Scheyer saw Proctor’s promise long before the draft. Their connection, built over three roller-coaster seasons at Duke, is a big part of Proctor’s story.
As Tyrese Proctor Joins the Cavs, an Emotional Clip of Jon Scheyer Resurfaces
During Proctor’s time at Duke, he had several memorable performances, including a standout game against Baylor in the NCAA Round of 32, when he hit seven three-pointers. Following that game, Scheyer was visibly moved in a postgame interview, holding back tears as he spoke about Proctor’s journey.
“Tyrese and I had a call on May 31 to come a year early,” Scheyer said. “We knew there would be rough patches… but he had big-time moments.”
That early reclassification set the tone for the relationship between Proctor and Scheyer, which was tested over three seasons. Proctor faced a sophomore slump that could have shaken his confidence, but Scheyer stood by him. “And so he doubles down, comes back, huge expectations. And me, Tyrese, and both would say his sophomore year didn’t go the way we wanted,” Scheyer added.
Tyrese Proctor just signed a 4 year, 8.69 million dollar contract with the Cavs
Listen to Jon Scheyer get emotional talking about his guy
“If I’m an NBA team, I’m going after him because you have to be able to handle adversity.”
(Via @CBBonFOX 🎥)
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 2, 2025
Many players in Proctor’s position would have considered transferring or leaving college early, but he chose to stay at Duke. As Scheyer put it, “He and his family… they had such maturity to understand it’s more important to be ready than just be drafted.”
Proctor’s patience paid off during his junior year, when he averaged 12.4 points per game, shot 45.2% from the field, and 40.5% from three-point range. He played in the shadow of stars like Cooper Flagg, but his consistency and steady play stood out.
Scheyer’s comments highlight how rare Proctor’s path has been in today’s college basketball landscape, where transfers and NIL drama are common. “And I think that speaks a lot to his character and, obviously, our relationship,” Scheyer said.
Proctor helped Duke win an ACC title and advance to the Final Four last season with the Blue Devils. Throughout his college career, Proctor built a reputation as a steady, reliable player, rather than a flashy, viral star.
The Cavaliers’ rotation has seen significant changes this offseason. Ty Jerome left via free agency, and the team acquired guard Lonzo Ball in a trade with the Chicago Bulls that sent Isaac Okoro the other way. The Cavaliers also re-signed Sam Merrill. With these moves, Proctor has a real chance to carve out a meaningful role. If Scheyer’s emotional comments are any indication, the Cavs may have found a new go-to player in Proctor.
