The $150m Players Evolving into a Highlight Machine
The NBA season starts now, signaling the initial occasion in a decade that Aussie pair of most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.
Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest sporting income generators.
They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time around the league, ranging from 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 Out to Prove Himself
Following lengthy discussions with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally signed his rookie extension worth US$100 million (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is affordable for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to pay top dollar means the young star begins this year with much to prove.
After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last season, he watched as his old team charged to the title in his absence. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to show his shooting and defence are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.
Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth
The guard signed the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks player's trajectory has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in takeaways with three per game – more than one whole takeaway per match higher than the tally of second place.
Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be successful this season as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was subpar last year, and keep develop his distribution and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile players.
Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch
Pacers wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a series of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.
After logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 appearances in his debut season, the former college student is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might favor youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.
Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot
Playmaker the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are favourites to make the Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a rookie drafted in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has earned time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.
Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet
Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after ankle surgery.
In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.
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 the upcoming year, but won’t want to give his teammates at the rebuilding Charlotte an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key exhibition chances in the Mavericks.
Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles
Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see much, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.
Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their affiliate team. Fellow rookies Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to earn playing time with his compatriot for the Cavaliers.
Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts
If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video posted on his accounts over the weekend, showing the veteran is still in form and focused on landing one more NBA contract.
What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, angling and playing with a football. Although he posted on social media last month to deny suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.
