Those A$150 Million Men Evolving into a Highlight Machine

The NBA campaign begins now, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Aussie pair of biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top sporting earners.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for playing time around the league, 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 protracted discussions with the Bulls, Giddey finally signed his rookie extension worth US$100 million ($153m) over four years last month. It’s a huge contract for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. Hesitation for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old begins this season with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey watched as his former squad stormed to the title without him. As the Bulls aim to reach the postseason in the less competitive East, he will have to demonstrate his shooting and defence are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as Giddey this week, and after his MIP honor last year, the Atlanta guard’s career has taken off in the city following his departure from the New Orleans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in steals with 3.0 spg – more than one whole takeaway per match greater than the total of second place.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the youngster can be effective this campaign as a secondary ballhandler and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his three-point shooting, which was subpar last year, and continue to enhance his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the league’s most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Pacers wing the rookie has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana following a series of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led NBA personality Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a long time”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following logging just 8 mpg per game over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the ex- college player is in the running for a Pacers lineup that might favor young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat

Guard Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft down to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland selected him. The Cavs are favourites to reach the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Sydney product has earned time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to contribute.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play consistent minutes if the Blazers find themselves competitive. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has left him without a timeline to come back. The 24-year-old still has a contract for the upcoming year, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets too much head start. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed important exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.

Australian NBA Players On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, game action this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but seems to be little more than a big brother keeping Anthony Edwards in check.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured 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 win playing time with Proctor 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 social media over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still in form and determined on securing one more league deal.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, angling and playing with a Sherrin. Even though he posted on Instagram last month to reject suggestions he was retired, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.