🔗 Share this article

The NBA campaign begins now, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes around the league, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy discussions with the Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his rookie extension worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star enters this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, he observed as his former squad stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Chicago look to reach the postseason in the less competitive East, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels signed the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has taken off in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per match higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last season, and keep develop his passing and driving, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavaliers are favourites to make the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the second round to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has earned time in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent action if the team find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to come back. The 24-year-old still has a deal for the upcoming year, but won’t want to give his teammates at the developing Charlotte too much advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed important pre-season chances in Dallas.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a workout video shared on his social media recently, demonstrating the veteran is still in form and focused on landing another NBA contract.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a football. Although he took to social media recently to deny rumors he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.