BIO: Luke Travers was born in Adelaide (SA) and later moved to Perth (WA), where he attended Willetton Senior High School and began his junior basketball with the Rockingham Flames as a junior.

In 2017, Travers debuted in the State Basketball League (SBL) for the Rockingham Flames.

In 2018 Travers helped break a 17-year drought for Western Australia, winning gold at the Under 18 National Championships.

Opting to forgo college basketball in the United States to begin his professional career in Australia, he made his debut for the Wildcats as a development player in 2019. Travers received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2018. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Luke Travers made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 18 years of age. He scored three points in his first game.

The Wildcats began their 2019 offseason by securing four-time championship-winning coach Trevor Gleeson on a three-year deal. Key players Damian Martin and Jesse Wagstaff, alongside import Terrico White, also re-signed. Six members of the previous championship squad returned, with Wani Swaka Lo Buluk elevated from development player to a full roster spot, replacing the retiring Greg Hire. Additionally, Dario Hunt and Majok Majok were signed to fill the void left by departing big men Tom Jervis and Angus Brandt, who pursued opportunities overseas.

The Wildcats started the season strong, winning five of their first six games. By Round 10, however, they had dropped to 8–5 after back-to-back losses. They responded with four consecutive victories, closing out December with a 13–6 record. During this period, Damian Martin celebrated his 300th game for the Wildcats but suffered a left heel injury, sidelining him for all of January.

Following consecutive losses to start 2020, the Wildcats decided to release Dario Hunt, who was averaging 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, and replaced him with seven-year NBA veteran Miles Plumlee. Plumlee provided the inside presence Perth lacked, as highlighted by a narrow win over New Zealand (80–79), where he delivered 23 points and 18 rebounds—the first Wildcat to record a 20-point, 15-rebound game since 2007.

Plumlee’s arrival bolstered Perth’s form, with the team winning six of their final seven regular-season games to secure a second-place finish (19–9) and their 34th consecutive finals appearance. Bryce Cotton (22.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists) became the first import in NBL history to lead the league in scoring for three consecutive seasons, while Nick Kay (15 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals) solidified his status as one of the league’s top players.

In the semifinals, Perth faced Cairns in a tightly contested series. The Wildcats narrowly took Game One (88–86), with Bryce Cotton scoring 32 points and Nick Kay adding 14 points and six rebounds. Cairns leveled the series in Game Two, forcing a decider. Perth ultimately prevailed in Game Three, securing their place in the Grand Final.

The Wildcats opened the Grand Final series against Sydney with an 88–86 win, highlighted by big performances from Cotton (32 points) and Kay (30 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists). However, after the Kings tied the series with a 93–86 victory in Game Two, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the remaining games to be played without fans. Sydney eventually withdrew from the series due to travel restrictions, awarding Perth their 10th championship. Cotton, who averaged 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over the series, was named Grand Final MVP for the second time in four years.

Luke Travers made his NBL debut during this championship-winning season. As a rookie, Travers saw limited court time, appearing in four games and scoring a total of five points.

2020/21
Following their Grand Final victory, Perth entered NBL21 facing several challenges. Key players Terrico White and Nick Kay departed for overseas opportunities, while import Miles Plumlee was not re-signed due to the league reducing import spots from three to two. To fill the void, the Wildcats signed John Mooney, who would play a critical role in their frontcourt.

The season began under unprecedented circumstances, with the NBL implementing a rolling schedule due to ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions. After a slow start, Perth sat in seventh place by Round 5. The league then moved all teams to Melbourne for the NBL Cup, a mid-season tournament designed to mitigate travel issues.

Bryce Cotton (23.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals) elevated his game during the NBL Cup, helping the Wildcats climb back to the top of the standings. Todd Blanchfield (15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists) thrived alongside Cotton, setting a team record for most three-pointers in a season. John Mooney (16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals) formed a formidable trio with Cotton and Blanchfield, propelling Perth to a second-place finish (25–11).

Perth’s playoff run began with a semifinal matchup against Illawarra. After dropping Game One (72–74), Luke Travers stepped up in Game Two, contributing 13 points and 10 rebounds in a critical 79–71 win. The Wildcats clinched the series with a 79–71 victory in Game Three, thanks to Blanchfield (24 points and five rebounds) and Mitchell Norton (15 points and four rebounds).

In the Grand Final, Perth faced Melbourne United, who had finished the regular season in first place. Game One was a tightly contested battle, with Blanchfield scoring 27 points, but the Wildcats fell short (70–73). Melbourne dominated Game Two, led by Chris Goulding (21 points) and Jock Landale (12 points and 17 rebounds), to secure an 83–74 victory.

Game Three marked the end of Perth’s season as Melbourne completed a sweep with an 81–76 win. Landale’s dominant performance (15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks) earned him Finals MVP honours, and Melbourne claimed their sixth NBL championship.

Travers became a regular rotation player during this season, appearing in 40 games and averaging 4.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. His contributions hinted at his potential, and he became an integral part of Perth’s future plans.

2021/22
The 2021/22 season marked a major transition for the Perth Wildcats, as Trevor Gleeson, who had guided the team to five championships in seven seasons, departed to take an assistant coaching role with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. Compounding this loss, mid-season signing Will Magnay and key bench players Clint Steindl, Jarrad Weeks, and Jarred Bairstow all joined the newly formed Tasmania JackJumpers under former Wildcats assistant Scott Roth.

In response, Perth restructured its roster under new head coach Scott Morrison. The team signed imports Vic Law (via Brisbane) and Michael Frazier III, while adding Matthew Hodgson (via Brisbane) to fill the final roster spot.

With key players such as Mitchell Norton, Matthew Hodgson, Todd Blanchfield, and Michael Frazier missing time due to injuries, Luke Travers saw increased opportunities and made significant strides in his third year with the Wildcats. He delivered career-best averages of 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Travers also showcased an improved three-point shot and enhanced playmaking skills, drawing the attention of NBA scouts.

The Wildcats began the season with five home games before being forced to play 14 consecutive games away due to Western Australia’s COVID-19 border restrictions. Despite the challenges of playing on the road for an extended period, Perth spent most of the season in the top four and emerged as a strong contender for the Grand Final.

The duo of Bryce Cotton (22.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals) and Vic Law (20.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks) was a dominant force during the early stages of the season. Both players ranked among the league’s top three scorers, helping Perth lead the NBL in scoring at 89.1 points per game.

Returning home for their final nine games of the regular season, Perth made a controversial mid-season move to replace Michael Frazier III with John Brown III. Brown, however, was unable to secure a clearance from his former team in time to make the playoffs, forcing the Wildcats to reinstate Frazier late in the season. This disruption, combined with injuries to Law (season-ending knee injury) and Cotton (missing several games), caused the Wildcats to falter, winning only three of their final nine games.

In their final regular-season game, Perth faced the South East Melbourne Phoenix with a playoff spot on the line. Holding an eight-point lead in the second half, it seemed the Wildcats would extend their record streak of playoff appearances to 37 seasons. However, the Phoenix mounted a spirited comeback, securing a dramatic two-point overtime win and ending Perth’s historic playoff streak, which had begun in 1986.

Despite the disappointing end to the season, Travers continued to develop as a key piece for Perth and signed a three-year extension with the club.

2022/23
The 2022/23 season saw Luke Travers further elevate his game, averaging career-highs of 9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. His contributions helped the Wildcats secure a sixth-place finish with a 15–13 record,.

MELBOURNE UNITED
2023/24
Melbourne won 11 of its final 14 games in NBL23 but still finished seventh at 15-13 and missed the postseason on percentage. Mason Peatling (to Illawarra), David Okwera (to Perth), Makuach Maluach (to Sydney), Isaac Humphries (to Adelaide), Marcus Lee (to Tasmania), Rayjon Tucker (to Venice), Lachlan Barker (to Tasmania) and David Barlow (retired) departed. Coach Dean Vickerman brought Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (via China) and Matthew Dellavedova (via Sacramento) back to Melbourne, while Luke Travers (via Perth), Ian Clark (via Adelaide), Tanner Krebs (via Brisbane), Flynn Cameron (via UC Riverside) and Kyle Bowen (via Saint Mary’s) joined the roster. A wrist injury to Lual-Acuil Jr before the season led to Rob Loe (via New Zealand) signing as an injury replacement and Ariel Hukporti moving into the starting line-up.

Travers signed a three-year deal after four seasons with Perth, leaving his home state while the Cleveland Cavaliers retained his NBA Draft rights. “I think a big thing for me going into this was getting out of my comfort zone,” Travers said.

Melbourne opened the season against South East Melbourne at John Cain Arena on September 28, where Travers (20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) top-scored on his United debut as Melbourne won 82-67, with Dellavedova (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Loe (9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block) providing support while Ben Ayre (17 points and 2 rebounds) led the Phoenix.

Travers (12.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 33 games) settled into United’s starting power-forward role, using his rebounding to initiate the offence while providing length, athleticism and versatility defensively. He was the only NBL player to average more than one steal and one block during the season. A concussion ended his November 6 game against Perth after only 47 seconds and an ankle injury later sidelined him for two games in January.

Returning from the concussion, Travers’ best game came against Sydney at John Cain Arena on November 19, where Travers (18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) helped Melbourne recover from a 19-point deficit to defeat the defending champions 105-93. Goulding (35 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) and Lual-Acuil Jr (17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) led the scoring alongside him, while DJ Hogg (20 points and 6 rebounds) was Sydney’s best as United produced a 40-point final quarter.

Goulding (16.9 points across 36 games) led Melbourne in scoring, with Lual-Acuil Jr (14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 29 games), Ian Clark (13.6 points across 30 games), Dellavedova (12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists across 30 games) and Ili (10.7 points and 3.7 assists across 34 games) completing a deep starting and closing group. Hukporti (7.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 36 games), Loe (5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds across 8 games) and Krebs (5.3 points across 36 games) provided further depth. Goulding finished second in MVP voting, earned All-NBL First Team honours and won United’s club MVP award, Lual-Acuil Jr was selected to the All-NBL Second Team, Ili won Defensive Player of the Year, Ian Clark received Best Sixth Man and Vickerman was named Coach of the Year.

United closed the regular season against Illawarra at John Cain Arena on February 18, where Travers (13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) came off the bench as Melbourne won 92-87, with Goulding (19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Dellavedova (17 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) leading the scoring while Justin Robinson (14 points and 5 assists) was Illawarra’s best. Melbourne finished first with a 20-8 record, three wins clear of the competition after spending 19 of the season’s 20 rounds on top of the ladder.

Travers declined an opportunity to represent the Boomers during the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers so he could get his body right for Melbourne’s finals campaign.

Melbourne opened the semifinals at John Cain Arena on March 7, where Travers (24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) produced his highest-scoring game of the season as United recovered from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Illawarra 115-106 in overtime. Dellavedova (30 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals) and Goulding (18 points and 3 rebounds) helped complete the comeback, while Froling (26 points and 5 rebounds), Gary Clark (22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Harvey (15 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led the Hawks.

Game two moved to WIN Entertainment Centre, where Travers (11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks) returned after landing awkwardly on his left knee during the second quarter. Dellavedova (20 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals), Lual-Acuil Jr (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 block) and Ian Clark (17 points and 3 rebounds) led Melbourne, while Gary Clark (31 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists), Harvey (23 points and 2 steals), Froling (19 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Hickey (18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) carried Illawarra. Hickey’s putback at the regulation buzzer forced overtime before the Hawks won 113-108 and levelled the series.

The series returned to John Cain Arena for game three, where Travers (15 points and 11 rebounds), Ili (22 points and 3 rebounds), Goulding (14 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block) and Ian Clark (14 points) led Melbourne to a 100-94 win. Froling (23 points and 4 rebounds), Robinson (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Gary Clark (14 points and 6 rebounds) kept Illawarra close before United advanced to the Grand Final series.

Melbourne opened the Grand Final at John Cain Arena, where Travers (9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks) protected the rim and helped restrict McVeigh while United defeated Tasmania 104-81. Goulding (22 points and 4 rebounds), Lual-Acuil Jr (20 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Ian Clark (18 points and 6 rebounds) led Melbourne, while Drmic (18 points), Doyle (16 points and 8 rebounds) and McVeigh (13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) were Tasmania’s best.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Travers (3 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks), Ili (20 points), Goulding (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Lual-Acuil Jr (9 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) helped Melbourne establish a 15-point third-quarter lead. McVeigh (16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), Doyle (13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists), Crawford (13 points and 4 assists) and Macdonald (13 points) led Tasmania’s comeback before the JackJumpers won 82-77 and levelled the series.

Game three returned to John Cain Arena, where Travers (14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks), Dellavedova (21 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals) and Goulding (17 points and 4 rebounds) led Melbourne. McVeigh (18 points and 12 rebounds), Deng (15 points and 1 block), Doyle (14 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Crawford (14 points) kept Tasmania close before Doyle saved a deflected inbound pass and McVeigh made a long three-pointer from beyond half-court at the buzzer, giving the JackJumpers a 93-91 win and a 2-1 series lead.

Game four remained at MyState Bank Arena, where Travers (17 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks), Ian Clark (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block), Goulding (17 points) and Dellavedova (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Melbourne. McVeigh (28 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals), Doyle (14 points and 6 rebounds), Macdonald (14 points) and Crawford (14 points) led Tasmania before Dellavedova made the go-ahead lay-up with 7.2 seconds remaining and United held on for an 88-86 win to force a deciding game.

Game five returned to John Cain Arena, where Crawford (32 points and 6 rebounds) scored 19 points during the opening quarter and received support from McVeigh (14 points and 8 rebounds), Magnay (11 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Doyle (11 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals) as Tasmania won 83-81 and secured its first championship. Lual-Acuil Jr (14 points and 6 rebounds), Dellavedova (13 points and 7 assists), Goulding (13 points, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Ili (11 points and 4 rebounds) kept United in the game, with McVeigh named Grand Final MVP. Travers’ two blocks took him to 14 for the series, equalling Willie Simmons’ 1989 Championship Series record. Travers (13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) scored 11 points in the first quarter and played 34:33 minutes in the loss.

Luke Travers played five seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Perth Wildcats and the Melbourne United. He averaged 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 133 NBL games.

HIGHLIGHTS: