🔗 Share this article

The National Basketball Association season starts this week, marking the initial occasion in a decade that Australia's pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

Their absence indicates a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for contending teams, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic income generators.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for minutes around the league, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing rookies like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, the guard finally inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is cheap for Giddey’s position and reputation 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 Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his old team stormed to the title in his absence. As the Chicago look to reach the postseason in the less competitive East, he will have to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard signed the same deal as his counterpart this week, and after his MIP honor last year, the Hawks player's trajectory has taken off in the city following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one whole takeaway per game higher than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be successful this campaign as a playmaking option 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, he could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers forward Furphy has emerged as a fan favourite in the state following a succession of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.

Following logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his debut season, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in the running for a Pacers rotation that might lean towards youth following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard the Sydney native dropped in the June draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the second round to see significant court time. But the Sydney product has earned minutes in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting offers him a chance to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a chance to secure the starting five spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular minutes if the team find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green’s off-season shoulder surgery has left him without a timeline to come back. The player still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his teammates at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive head start. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key pre-season opportunities in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Additionally, 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 appears to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Other rookies Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn minutes alongside his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a training clip shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran remains sharp and determined on securing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in his homeland, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Although he posted on Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet return to the league.