🔗 Share this article

This year's NBA season tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Aussie pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change signals a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for playing time across the NBA, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to promising rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this year with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, Giddey observed as his old team stormed to the title in his absence. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his MIP honor last season, the Hawks player's career has taken off in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with three per game – over one whole steal per match higher than the tally of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and continue to develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star dunk contest could be on the table.

Following playing just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former college player is in the running for a Indiana lineup that might favor young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five spot in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the team find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s summer shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to return. The player still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important pre-season opportunities in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, court time this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but seems to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to earn playing time with Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip posted on his accounts over the weekend, showing the veteran remains sharp and focused on securing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, angling and using with a Sherrin. Even though he took to Instagram recently to deny suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.