🔗 Share this article

This year's NBA season starts this week, marking the initial occasion in a decade that Australia's pair of biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's highest athletic income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for playing time across the NBA, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards 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, Giddey ultimately inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons recently. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by the Thunder at the beginning of last season, Giddey watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will need to show his scoring and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one whole steal per game higher than the total of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was subpar last year, and keep enhance his distribution and attacking, he could become one of the league’s most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be on the table.

After playing just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former college player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor fell in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the second round to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has earned time in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting centre position in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent action if the team become competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the developing Charlotte an excessive head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has been absent for important pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to win playing time with Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip posted 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 off-season in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on social media recently to reject suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.