New beginnings: How Luke Travers plans to elevate his game with Melbourne United

A newfound independence on and off the court has Travers set for a big year with his new team in Melbourne.

When Luke Travers left the Perth Wildcats, it appeared the result of a desire for a bigger on-court role.

Upon news of his departure, The West Australian read that ‘Perth Wildcats star Luke Travers has declared his decision to leave the club came down to the realisation that his NBA dream relies upon being a dominant force in his team, and that was never going to occur playing alongside three-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton.’

In discussion throughout NBL media, the narrative reflected similar concerns over the need to grow his basketball role, with Liam Santamaria believing that “he needs to make a decision more of a basketball perspective, who’s going to play me as the point-forward and give me opportunities to get triple-doubles.”

And yet when asked, both Travers and Melbourne United assistant coach Jacob Chance, noted off-court growth as the biggest change since broadening his wings beyond his hometown Wildcats. Instead of citing an improved shooting stroke or ball handling ability, personal development appears to be the significant revelation.

“His biggest growth has been away from the floor,” Chance said. “Two years away from home in Tassie and now he’s here [in Melbourne] living on his own, cooking, cleaning, and there’s still so much room to improve. But super pleased with his growth as a human being, and you see it out on the floor. Anytime you’re comfortable away from the floor, your business place gets a lot better and for him he comes to work every day, he’s a pro.

“I think people forget if he had have gone to school, he’d be in his senior year right now.”

Travers echoes the perspective.

“Just being able to cook for myself and clean the house for myself is definitely a big one, but on the court as well, being able to be over here and getting out of my comfort zone, meeting new people,” Travers said. “I’m known as a pretty quiet person so getting over here and talking to new guys and learning a new team has been a challenge but the reason why I did it.”

Travers, who admitted to struggling with his first move away from home with the AIS at age 16, said that it was a move he had to take. Eased by his girlfriend’s presence —who has joined him in Melbourne— and frequent FaceTime sessions with family back in Perth, Travers has developed a newfound independence and confidence that’s translating onto the court. Coach Chance —who has known Travers since the age of 15 through his time coaching with the Rockingham Flames, and later the Perth Wildcats— has been a constant through Travers’ earlier basketball journey, and the duo have reconnected after a two-year hiatus from Travers’ stint with the JackJumpers.

“We have a great relationship off the court, and the way he can talk to me will really help me throughout the year. Having him here definitely makes things easier,” Travers said.

Credit: Melbourne United

Off-court evolution aside, Travers’ on-court role is changing, if not to the dramatic extent indicated by media at the time of his offseason move. Rather than a jump in offensive usage, subtle tweaks to his position and role will seek to elevate his impact on the floor.