The past year of Duop Reath’s basketball journey has been both satisfying and exhilarating, with a touch of rewarding. The former LSU standout was the starting center for the Australian national team at last summer’s World Cup before earning a spot on an NBA roster last fall.
Things improved further on Saturday when the 28-year-old Reath was named to the Australian Boomers Olympic team for the second time, having previously been part of the bronze-medal-winning team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
After playing professionally in Serbia, China, and Lebanon since 2018, Reath’s selection for the Paris Olympics marks a significant milestone in his globetrotting career.
Reath’s NBA debut was with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he had a solid rookie season. Despite starting in the G-League, he played 68 games with 20 starts, averaging 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists, while shooting 46.1% from the field and 35.9% from 3-point range. He scored in double digits 32 times, including a career-high 26 points against Minnesota on March 4, 2024. On January 7, 2024, he recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds against Brooklyn. On February 16, Reath was rewarded with a three-year, $6.22 million contract, with $4 million guaranteed.
Boomers assistant coach David Patrick, who recruited Reath to LSU and has coached him on the Australian national team, praised Reath’s improvement. Patrick noted that Reath, whose family fled war-torn South Sudan, has developed into a versatile player capable of scoring in the post, shooting 3-pointers, blocking shots, and running the floor.
Australia will play pre-Olympic games against the USA and Serbia before heading to the Paris Olympics, where they will compete in pool play against Spain, Canada, and Greece. In the Tokyo Games, Reath averaged 2.8 minutes and 1.6 points over six games, but Patrick believes his leadership and versatility could see him play a more significant role this time.