The NBA begins this week with the two biggest names in Australian basketball – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – without a roster spot for the first time in a decade.
Their absence signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for the playoff hopefuls, with nine-figure contracts recently signed, making them among Australia’s highest-paid sportsmen.
But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are expected to compete for minutes in the league, ranging from veteran centers Jock Landale and Duop Reath, to emerging wingers Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.
Josh Giddey wants to prove himself
After lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally signed his four-year, $100 million contract extension last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in NBA terms it’s cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a primary playmaker. The reluctance of Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this season with a lot to prove.
Having been traded by Oklahoma City early last season, Giddey watched his former team win the NBA championship without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate that his shooting and defense are worthy of a starter or he could fall back to the NBA’s fringes.
Dyson Daniels plans a new step
Daniels signed the same contract as Giddey this week, and after his Most Improved Player award last season, the Hawks guard’s career took off in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and led the league in steals with three per game – more than a total of takeaways per game more than second place’s total.
Playing alongside the flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can succeed this season as a secondary ball handler and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and continue to develop his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the most versatile players in the league.
Johnny Furphy headlines the highlights
Pacers wing Furphy has become a fan favorite in Indiana after a string of highlight-reel dunks in the preseason. His stunts prompted NBA personality Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while,” and an invitation to the midseason dunk contest could be on the table.
After playing just eight minutes per game over 50 games during his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Pacers rotation that could lean toward the younger side following an injury to point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Tyrese Proctor an outside shot
Guard Proctor fell in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are the favorites to advance to the NBA Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie selected in the second round to spend significant time on the court. But the Sydney product has seen some minutes in the preseason, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to contribute.
Crucial minutes loom for veteran quintet
Veteran center Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting center position in Memphis given that highly touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the season after ankle surgery.
In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to young centers Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle will likely be used as a defensive spark off the bench.
In Charlotte, Josh Green’s offseason shoulder surgery left him with no time to return. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but won’t want to give his rebuilding Hornets teammates too much of a lead. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who is dealing with knee soreness and missing key preseason opportunities in Dallas.
Australian NBA players on the sidelines
Then there are those who likely won’t see much time on the field, if at all, this season. Joe Ingles, 38, is back in Minnesota, but seems to be just a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.
Rocco Zikarsky will likely be developed by the Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich to Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more experienced Luke Travers hopes to earn minutes alongside Proctor for the Cavs.
Ben Simmons and Patty Mills seek deal
If there were any doubts that Mills was close to retirement, he answered them with a workout video posted to his social media over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old remaining sharp and focused on landing another NBA contract.
What Simmons thinks is anyone’s guess after an offseason in Australia, fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Despite taking to Instagram last month to dismiss suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.
