Those A$150 Million Players Transforming a Highlight Machine

This year's NBA campaign begins this week, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's two most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are without a roster spot.

This change 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 huge contracts making them some of Australia’s highest sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for playing time across the NBA, ranging from veteran centres 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

After lengthy negotiations with the Bulls, the guard finally signed his rookie extension worth $100m ($153m) over four years recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in NBA terms it is affordable for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old begins this season with much to prove.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last season, Giddey watched as his former squad charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls look to reach the postseason in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to show his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

The guard agreed to the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta player's trajectory has taken off in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one whole steal per game greater than the total of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective this season as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his three-point shooting, which was below league average last year, and continue to develop his distribution and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in exhibition games. His acrobatics led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “top Caucasian leaper we’ve seen in a long time”, and an opportunity to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his debut season, the ex- Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor young players following injury to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor fell in the June draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the Finals from the East, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the second round to see much court time. But the Australian has seen minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet

Seasoned big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss the opening of the campaign 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 action if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive specialist off the bench.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but will not want to allow his colleagues at the developing Charlotte too much advantage. And a physical issue has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but appears to be primarily a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Other first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to win playing time with Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

Should anyone question Mills was set to retire, he addressed it with a training clip posted on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still in form and focused on securing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an off-season in Australia, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram last month to deny suggestions he was done, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.