Duop Reath’s journey to the NBA has been anything but ordinary. After a strong outing at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Reath initially joined the Portland Trail Blazers on a one-year deal. The rookie center then overcame a setback with a waiver, quickly bouncing back by securing a two-way contract just three days later, on October 24. 

After signing the two-way contract, the 27-year-old established himself as a key piece in the Blazers’ rotation, starting 11 of his 40 games while posting an impressive 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. However, it was his 38.5% accuracy from beyond the arc that not only added a new dimension to the Blazers’ offense but also put him in the spotlight. As a result, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski recently announced the Blazers have offered Reath a spot on the team roster through the 2025-26 season with a standard three-year NBA contract worth $6,063,534.

Although this was a no-brainer since Reath is just 10 games clear of the maximum 50 that the league allows two-way players to participate in a single season, it was far from easy. 

Duop Reath’s inspiring backstory

It all dates back to his early days in Sudan, a country ravaged by a civil war (1983–2005) that claimed the lives of nearly 2 million civilians. Growing up in a hut without a bed or shoes, he faced hardships no child should endure. Seeking refuge, Reath and his family fled to the Kakuma camp, where they lived among over 150,000 refugees. In the refugee camp, they endured harsh conditions, including dust storms, encounters with poisonous spiders, snakes, and scorpions, as well as outbreaks of malaria and cholera.

Reath’s life took a turn for the better when his father’s cousin in Australia sponsored their journey to safety. He relocated to Brisbane at the age of nine, later moving to Perth and enrolling at Girrawheen Senior High School. It was there that he caught the eye of Marcus King, an assistant at Lee College, during a basketball game. This opportunity led him to Baytown, Texas, and opened the door to NCAA basketball. After spending two years at Lee College, he transferred to LSU for his junior and senior seasons, where he averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

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Despite his decent performance, he went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft but continued chasing his dreams with the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League in 2018, the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, and the Phoenix Suns Summer League in 2022. His journey also involved overseas trips to four continents, including Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), Illawarra Hawks (Australasia’s NBL), Qingdao Eagles (CBA China), and Al Riyadi Beirut (West Asia Super League).

However, while this might have been enough to deter some from pursuing their NBA dreams, Duop Reath persevered. As mentioned, he ultimately achieved his goal, landing the contract of his dreams with the Portland Trail Blazers. His story serves as a testament to the power of hard work and resilience, showing that even the most seemingly unattainable dreams can come true.

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