Versatile Travers crucial to United’s title hopes

Despite being just 22 years old, Luke Travers is no stranger to the bright lights of an NBL Championship series.

The Perth native was a Development Player with the Wildcats when they hoisted the trophy in 2020, and appeared in one game of their series defeat to Melbourne United in 2021.

Now back on the grand stage, Travers has showcased his ability to impact the game at both ends, helping fuel MU’s game-winning run to take a 1-0 advantage over the JackJumpers.

The athletic forward ultimately finished with nine points, four rebounds, four blocks, two steals and two assists in just over 25 minutes of action.

Speaking to media ahead of Game 2, teammate Matthew Dellavedova heaped praise on Travers.

“He’s had a great season for us and has shown all kinds of things that he can do,” he explained.

“He’s so versatile, whether it’s shooting the three, putting the ball on the floor for himself to score, catching on the roll, making plays and passing out of it, blocking shots, getting steals, switching defensively, he can do a lot of things.

“I thought he was massive for us in the Illawarra series and I thought he played great defence the other night. He can just do a bit of everything... I tell him all the time, keep being aggressive. If he gets the rebound and pushes it up the floor, no one can keep up with him.”

Head Coach Dean Vickerman expanded on this, elaborating on how he’s seen Travers’ game grow over the course of the season.

“I’ve talked about the ability for us to want to have set plays for him and that’s been a jump,” Vickerman said.

“He’s been more of a facilitator and receiver at different points and now he’s created such an offensive package, you want to get him in switches, you want to get him downhill.

“There’s just an overall toughness that he’s built in his time here from the demands of what we’ve asked from him defensively.

“There’s been massive growth in that and the connection and physicality that we preach a lot, I think he’s really bought in and improved over the year.”

Travers will next hit the court alongside his teammates on Friday evening from 7:30pm in Tasmania for Game 2 before returning home for Game 3 on Sunday.

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