Melbourne's best motivate star recruit

Photo: MU Media

Melbourne United has assembled an impressive veteran core ahead of NBL24, and young star Luke Travers is hoping to learn off some of Melbourne’s most experienced and awarded players.

Boomers legend Matthew Dellavedova and NBL22 champion Ian Clark have joined club icon Chris Goulding at the club, while three-time title-winning coach Dean Vickerman has remained at the helm.

Travers’ impressive last 12 months in world basketball makes it easy to forget he’s still just 21 years of age and was nominated for the NBL Next Generation Award last season.

He says he’s come to the perfect environment to take his game to the next level.

“I’m still 21 and it’s still nerve-racking at the same time, you don’t want to screw up in front of them,” Travers said on The Extra Pass. “At the same time they’re letting me make mistakes and learn from it.

“When the game comes they’re going to be a little bit harder on me, but that’s what I want. It’s a big reason why I came here, but also Dean’s [Vickerman] like that as well.

“The type of people they are allows you not to worry too much about that. If you do it they’ll let you know, but also come up with things you can do instead or give you a positive outlook.

“It’s super helpful, we’ve got a bunch of young guys that are just going out there and playing hard, and I think that’s a big part of it, just playing hard, playing your role and that’s going to get you far as well.”

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Travers has embarked on a professional rollercoaster since signing for Melbourne in April. Soon after coming to Victoria, he embarked on a 10-week trip to the United States – initially to work on his game alongside now NBA draftee Mojave King and a large Australian contingent of players, before playing in the NBA Summer League with Cleveland.

He played a starring role in the Cavaliers’ triumph, and saved his best performance for the do-or-die overtime semi-final win against Brooklyn where he registered 11 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.

“I want to say maybe two weeks before I went out to America I signed the deal, then went out there and spent two-and-a-half months in America,” Travers added. 

“It was pretty quick but that’s the best way to do it, not to dwell on anything back home.

“I haven’t been back to Perth since … even to this day I’m still calling my mum before a I do a load of washing to figure it out.

“That’s been a little bit different but they’re super supportive and only a phone call away.”

Melbourne will open the NBL season on Thursday, September 28 against local rivals South East Melbourne.