With the signing of a new three-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, Duop Reath, a big man for the Boomers, has continued his incredible rise in the NBA.
Reath, who was originally signed by the Blazers to a two-way contract after showing promise in the 2023 Summer League by averaging 13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in five games, is deserving of this prize.
NBA teams with two-way contracts can carry three more players in addition to the fifteen on their regular season roster; these players are often assigned to their G League affiliate and called up as necessary.
However, Reath has emerged as a vital member of Portland’s NBA rotation in just his first 11 games played, recording an average of 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in his 40 outings.
There was always a good chance that he would get an enhanced deal because two-way players can participate in up to 50 of their team’s 82 regular season games.
Following Robert Williams III’s season-ending right knee injury in November, Reath was given additional playing time.
Alongside regular starter Deandre Ayton, who shoots 38.5 percent from downtown, the 27-year-old was an ideal acquisition due to his outside shooting, passing, and floor space.
According to Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report, “there were questions about whether Reath and his representatives would be open to a multi-year deal” in the last few weeks.
“At 27 years old, this might have been his best chance for a real payday, and he’s played well enough this season that he might have had a legitimate market around the league if he had hit free agency,” Highskin wrote.
That demonstrated Reath’s excellent play for Portland this season on both sides of the court.
Even if it might have been the case, Reath was eager to stay put, and his teammates expressed on social media that they were as pleased to see the rookie center’s contract extended.
Born in South Sudan, Reath’s family later relocated to Australia. Earlier this month, he told Trail Blazers and Boomers colleague Matisse Thybulle about his amazing experience.
