Luke Travers is growing in confidence with every game he plays at NBA level.
The Melbourne United star continues to chase his dream for a roster spot at the Cleveland Cavaliers, lining up in the NBA Summer League in Vegas, and has highlighted the key to improvement.
“Confidence … I think just the mentality,” Travers told NBL Media’s Pete Hooley.
“Learning a lot from Delly (Matthew Dellavedova), IC (Ian Clark) … they taught me so much about mindset and preparation, so coming into these games it’s a lot easier. I see the floor a lot better.
“I’m not so nervous … confidence is sky-high.”
Travers was a standout for the Cavaliers on Monday, Australian time, with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in just 20 minutes of game time.
While that NBA roster spot has alluded him so far, at just 22, the world is at his feet.
“Every day really, even off the court … just being part of this environment, you’re always thinking about it,” he said of a potential NBA move.
“When game time comes, you kind of forget about it a little bit, but it’s always there.”
With a new coach at the Cavs, Kenny Atkinson, Travers will be keen to impress over the next fortnight.
“We’ve got some guys who are not playing, so a little bit more of an offensive role, but just continuing to lock down the defensive end,” he said of his instructions from the coaching staff.
“If I’m going to playing in the NBA, it’s alongside Donovan Mitchell, so doing little things like that on the defensive end is something I want to show I can do really well … continuing to space the floor, shoot the ball and cut off the ball as well.
“Just continuing to do those little things and impact winning was the main message.”
Travers and Brisbane’s Josh Bannan were among the NBL-rostered players in action on Monday, with the Bullets star putting up 8 points and grabbing 6 rebounds for the Los Angeles Clippers.