🔗 Share this article

The NBA season tips off now, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change signals a changing of the guard, as Australian backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s top athletic earners.

But they are not alone. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for minutes across the NBA, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard finally inked his new deal worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, he watched as his former squad stormed to the title in his absence. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs 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 league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one whole steal per game higher than the total of the runner-up.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last year, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in Indiana following a series of highlight-reel slam 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 invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following playing just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former college player is in contention for a Pacers rotation that might lean towards youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker the Sydney native fell in the June draft all the way to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a opportunity to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five position in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss the start of the season after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular action if the team find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to return. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but will not want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte too much head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for key exhibition chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, court time this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by the Wolves 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 more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to win minutes with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip shared on his social media recently, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still sharp and determined on landing one more NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, angling and using with a Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram last month to deny suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.