The A$150 Million Men Transforming a Human Highlight Reel

This year's NBA season tips off this week, signaling the initial occasion in a decade that Australia's pair of biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for playing time across the NBA, 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 Aiming to Show His Worth

Following lengthy negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey ultimately inked his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and reputation as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this year with much to prove.

After being moved by the Thunder at the start of last campaign, Giddey observed as his old team stormed to the title without him. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker East, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defence are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the NBA’s fringe.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

Daniels signed the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his MIP honor last season, the Hawks guard’s career has taken off in Atlanta following his exit from the Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with three per game – more than one full steal per match greater than the total of second place.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be effective this season as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was subpar last season, and continue to enhance his passing and attacking, he could become one of the league’s most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch

Indiana forward the rookie has emerged as a crowd favorite in the state following a succession of spectacular slam dunks in pre-season. His athletic displays prompted league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an invite to the mid-season slam dunk competition could be a possibility.

Following playing just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former college player is in the running for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard Proctor fell in the NBA Draft all the way to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls the Cavaliers selected him. The Cavs are front-runners to reach the NBA finals from the East, 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 pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to make an impact.

Playing Time Squeeze Ahead for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a opportunity to secure the starting five spot in Memphis given highly-touted Zach Edey will miss 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 see regular action if the Blazers find themselves in the hunt. His teammate Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive specialist in a reserve role.

In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder surgery has resulted in him without a timeline to return. The 24-year-old still has a deal for next season, but won’t want to give his teammates at the developing Hornets an excessive head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for important pre-season chances in Dallas.

Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles

Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in Minnesota, but appears to be little more than a mentor ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be nurtured by the Wolves through their G-League team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in the Bulls and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be hoping to earn playing time with his compatriot for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Seeking Contracts

Should anyone question Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a workout video posted on his social media over the weekend, showing the 37-year-old remains in form and focused on securing another NBA contract.

Simmons' intentions is anyone’s guess after an off-season in Australia, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Although he took to Instagram recently to reject suggestions he was done, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.