🔗 Share this article

The NBA season tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change signals a transition period, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts making them some of the country's highest sporting earners.

But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time across the NBA, including veteran centres 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

Following protracted negotiations with the Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this year with a point to make.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship without him. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive East, he will have to show his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta player's trajectory has taken off in the city following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in steals with three per game – more than one whole takeaway per match higher than the tally of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be effective this season as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve 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 versatile players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward the rookie has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics prompted league figure Pat Beverley to label 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.

Following logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the ex- college player is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor fell in the June draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are favourites to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the second round to see much court time. But the Australian has earned minutes in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a opportunity to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the season after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see regular minutes if the Blazers become competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder surgery has left him with no return date to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but will not want to give his teammates at the developing Charlotte too much head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but appears to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a workout video posted on his accounts recently, demonstrating the veteran is still sharp and focused on landing another league deal.

Simmons' intentions is uncertain after an break in Australia, going fishing and playing with a football. Although he took to Instagram recently to reject suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.