🔗 Share this article

This year's National Basketball Association season starts this week, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's pair of biggest hoops names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for playing time around the league, 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 Out to Prove Himself

After protracted discussions with the Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his rookie extension worth US$100 million ($153m) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the young star enters this season with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the beginning of last season, he watched 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 have to demonstrate his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta guard’s trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with three per game – over one whole steal per game higher than the tally of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, 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 long-range game, which was subpar last season, and continue to enhance his distribution and driving, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded players.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana wing the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of highlight-reel dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

After logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the former Maribyrnong College player is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor dropped in the June draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders the Cavaliers picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to make the NBA finals from the East, so it would be unusual for a first-year player taken in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has seen time in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the season after ankle surgery.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could see consistent minutes if the Blazers become competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to come back. The player still has a deal for next season, but will not want to give his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key pre-season chances in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Then there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Other rookies 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 Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his social media over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old is still in form and determined on securing another league deal.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an break in his homeland, angling and using with a football. Even though he took to social media recently to reject suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.