Duop Reath

Duop Reath: An Inspirational Journey from Sudan to the Global Basketball Arena

Duop Thomas Reath, born on the 26th of June 1996, is one remarkable life story of resilience and determination mirrored in a profound desire to excel in the world of professional basketball. Representing the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, Reath’s journey takes us from the small town of Waat, Sudan, (now in South Sudan’s Jonglei State) to his emerging stature as an accomplished international basketball player.

His roots trace back to volatile Sudan, where he was born amid civil unrest. At the tender age of nine, Reath moved to Brisbane, Australia, with his parents and six siblings. The change of scene was disruptive but held promise for a better life. After moving to Perth, he attended Girrawheen Senior High School, setting off towards an expected journey.

Initially, his love was soccer. He aspired to join the Socceroos, Australia’s national soccer team. But a sudden growth spurt in year 10 tipped the scales towards basketball. It was a blessing in disguise, redirecting his athletic prowess towards the hardwood courts.

After his schooling, he migrated to the United States to attend Lee College, a community college in Baytown, Texas. From 2014 to 2016, he played both his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Lee College Runnin’ Rebels. His performance gradually improved over time, moving from averaging 6.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 2014-15 to impressive figures of 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

In 2016, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers, a team from the prestigious Southeastern Conference (SEC), spotted his potential and scooped him up. His two-year stint with the Tigers was highly noteworthy. He earned the SEC Player of the Week honors in his very first week, signifying his immediate impact. He attained several personal bests, with season-high 23 points against Charleston and a career-high 16 rebounds against Texas A&M.

In 2018, despite a successful college basketball career, Reath went undrafted at the NBA draft. Nonetheless, he got his first NBA opportunity, albeit an indirect one, playing for the Dallas Mavericks at the NBA Summer League. It offered him essential exposure to the league, putting him on the trajectory to greater things.

Later in 2018, he signed a three-year contract with Serbian team FMP. His time in Serbia sharpened his skills and prepared him for his next big break. In 2020, he joined another Serbian team, Crvena zvezda, for a season before making another significant move – towards the National Basketball League (NBL), signing with the Illawarra Hawks for the 2021-22 season.

In 2022, Reath came back to NBA circles, playing in the NBA Summer League for the Phoenix Suns. Subsequently, he moved overseas, signing with Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association, where he posted impressive average statistics of 18.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.0 blocks across 39 matches.

In April 2023, he shifted to Beirut, Lebanon, to join Al Riyadi Beirut. His debut came on 19th April 2023, where he managed 24 points, helping his team secure a win against the Beirut Club in the West Asia Super League (WASL) semi-finals.

On 30th June 2023, Reath seized a golden opportunity to play in the 2023 NBA Summer League with the Portland Trail Blazers. On October 2, post the FIBA World Cup, he clinched a one-year contract with the Trail Blazers. After initially getting waived just before the season started, he was quickly re-signed to a two-way contract. Finally, he made his long-awaited NBA debut on 12th November against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 11 points, including three three-pointers.

Reath’s performance for the Australian national team was also immensely influential. He was part of the Australian basketball team that won a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and rejoined the Boomers for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. His journey thus far shows that the future looks promising for this impressive player, whose grit, passion, and indomitable spirit continue to inspire many.