The NBA campaign tips off this week, marking the first time in a ten years that Australia's two most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.
This change signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as essential players for contending teams, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of the country's highest sporting income generators.
They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete 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 intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.
After lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four seasons recently. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is affordable for his role and profile as a primary ball-handler. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this year with much to prove.
Having been traded by the Thunder at the beginning of last campaign, he watched as his old team stormed to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his shooting and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may slide towards the league's outskirts.
Daniels signed the identical contract as Giddey recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta player's career has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one whole takeaway per game higher than the tally of the runner-up.
Performing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and elite defender as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last season, and continue to enhance his distribution and driving, he could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.
Indiana wing Furphy has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in Indiana following a series of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the All-Star dunk contest could be a possibility.
Following logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the ex- college player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might favor youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.
Guard the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft down to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see much court time. But the Sydney product has seen minutes in exhibition play, and his pro-level shooting gives him a chance to make an impact.
Veteran centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five position in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will miss 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 play consistent minutes if the Blazers become 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 with no return date to come back. The player still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive advantage. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important exhibition opportunities in Dallas.
Then there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.
Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be aiming to win playing time alongside his compatriot for the Cavs.
Should anyone question Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran is still sharp and focused on securing one more NBA contract.
What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Although he took to social media recently to reject rumors he was done, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.
