Geraldton’s Alex Ducas set to hit the courts next week with OKC in the NBA summer league

Former Geraldton Buccaneer Alex Ducas is set to make his NBA debut next week after being picked up by the Oklahoma City Thunder following his draft disappointment.

The 23-year-old spent five years in the college system playing division one basketball for the Saint Mary’s Gaels in California, where he became the college’s all-time leader in games played.

When the draft came around, all 60 picks came and went and Ducas was left disappointed after not hearing his name called out.

However, just 30 minutes after the draft closed, the former Bucc was offered a two-way deal by Oklahoma City Thunder.

The two-way contract allows the Thunder to move Ducas between their primary team and the G-League side, the OKC Blue.

He won’t have to wait long to suit up, with the NBA summer league beginning next week, it provides a chance for rookies and fringe players to earn their spot on the roster.

His father said there had been interest in him ahead of the draft, including the two sides that faced off in the NBA finals.

“He had done a workout with the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics,” Aaron Ducas said.

“He was due to go have further workouts with the Dallas Mavericks, LA Lakers, Atlanta, and OKC who eventually picked him up.

“But when he was at the workout with Boston, he strained his quad and wasn’t able to do those other workouts unfortunately.”

However, Oklahoma City had seen enough to schedule interviews and meetings with the Geraldton product, before offering him a contract.

Ducas averaged nine points, four rebounds, and one assist across his college career, and earned a spot in the All-West Coast Conference second team in his final year.

Despite being able to declare for the draft after his first year, Ducas spent a full five years in college.

“He learnt a lot of stuff through the coaching and all his different experiences he’s had,” Aaron Ducas said.

“I think it’s developed him as a player, and as a person as well.”

He had always been a prodigy in the sport having started in Geraldton, making his first representative side when he was 12.

The Geraldton product will add his name to the list of Australian alumni from Saint Mary’s who have gone on to play in the NBA, including Patty Mills, Andrew Dellavedova and Jock Landale.

Ducas and OKC begin their summer league campaign next week with their first match against Philadelphia on July 8.