Frosty Red Army reaction to Travers predicted

How will Perth’s Red Army react the return of former Perth wonderkid Luke Travers to RAC Arena? With malice, according to former NBL champion Derek Rucker.

Perth-born Travers started his professional career as a development player with the Wildcats in NBL20, and Perth’s famously passionate fanbase watched him blossom from an inexperienced DP to a draftable talent right before their eyes.

He departed the club for Melbourne United in the off-season, and has consistently cited both United and Dean Vickerman’s ability to provide a platform to send players to the NBA as a key reason for his move east.

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The now 22-year-old left the Wildcats having played exactly 100 games for the side, and Rucker’s comments come after head coach John Rillie’s revelation that Perth wanted to keep Travers.

“It’s like when you see an ex-girlfriend, you still kind of love her and you’re still trying to figure it out. I think they’re going to boo him and give him a hard time but it’s going to hurt them doing so,” Rucker said on NBL Now.

“I think they’re going to come after him. Their ultimate allegiance is to the red and black. They don’t care who it is, and I think Luke is going to experience this.

“The adulation he’s received from the Red Army for years is going to turn around, he’ll experience it for a minute but they’re not going to hate him forever.

“They’ll acknowledge his talent, especially if he starts to shred them to bits in the second half, they’ll get back on his side.”

Luke Travers playing for the Wildcats in 2019.

It’s not just Melbourne Travers has impressed with so far this season, as he was a crucial part of Cleveland’s NBA Summer League triumph in July.

While traditionally a power forward, Travers thrived as an all-action, undersized centre for the Cavaliers, and was thrust into a point guard role early in Melbourne’s pre-season due to player availability issues.

While the ability to play a myriad of roles has unbdoubtedly fast-tracked Travers’ on-court development, Rucker believes the frosty reception Travers will likely receive in Perth is also crucial to his rapid improvement and NBA aspirations.

“These types of situations are where he needs to excel. Last year we saw him in the playoffs not really get it done under duress, and there were some questions about how badly he wanted it,” Rucker said.

"We have to remember also Luke Travers is still a really young player and I think this is something he needs to experience for his development, and understand when you go around the world not everybody loves you.

“I think he’s going to go back into Perth, struggle early, figure it out, and then be at his best in the second half of what should be an absolute ripper of a game.”

Melbourne take on Perth on Friday night at 9:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo.