Those $150m Players Evolving into a Highlight Machine

The National Basketball Association campaign begins now, marking the initial occasion in a ten years that Aussie pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

Their absence signals a changing of the guard, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for contending teams, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's highest athletic earners.

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 protracted negotiations with the Bulls, the guard ultimately 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 NBA terms it is affordable for his role and reputation as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the young star enters this year with a point to make.

After being moved by the Thunder at the beginning of last season, Giddey watched as his former squad charged to the title in his absence. As the Chicago look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will have to demonstrate his scoring and defence are elite-level or else he may slide towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels agreed to the same deal as Giddey recently, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Hawks guard’s career has skyrocketed in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – more than one full steal per match higher than the total of the runner-up.

Performing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the youngster can be effective this season as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the Hawks make the playoffs. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last season, and keep develop his distribution and driving, he could become one of the association's most versatile players.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana wing the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in Indiana following a series of highlight-reel slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to label him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star slam dunk competition could be on the table.

Following logging just 8 mpg per contest over 50 appearances in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College student is in contention for a Indiana lineup that might lean towards young players following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Playmaker Proctor dropped in the NBA Draft all the way to the 49th pick, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland picked him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the East, so it would be rare for a first-year player taken in the second round to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has seen time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

Veteran centre Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting centre spot in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the opening of the campaign after ankle surgery.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the team 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 surgery has resulted in him with no return date to return. The 24-year-old still has a deal for the upcoming year, but will not want to give his teammates at the developing Hornets too much advantage. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has missed key exhibition opportunities in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this year. Veteran Joe Ingles is back in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards in check.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be developed 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 earn minutes with his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he answered them with a workout video posted on his social media over the weekend, demonstrating the veteran remains in form and determined on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, going fishing and playing with a football. Even though he posted on social media last month to reject suggestions he was done, the former All-Star – an elite player as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.