🔗 Share this article

This year's National Basketball Association season starts this week, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two most prominent hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are unsigned.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes 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 discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his rookie extension worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it is affordable for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old begins this year with a point to make.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he observed as his old team charged to the title in his absence. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels signed the same deal as Giddey this week, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one whole takeaway per game higher than the total of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last season, and keep develop his passing and attacking, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a series of highlight-reel slam dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led NBA personality Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be on the table.

After logging just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College student is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the second round to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen time in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the Blazers become competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a contract for next season, but won’t want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Additionally, there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate 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 win minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a training clip shared on his social media recently, showing the veteran is still in form and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, angling and using with a football. Although he took to social media last month to reject rumors he was done, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.