Those $150m Players Transforming a Highlight Machine
The National Basketball Association season tips off now, marking the first time in a decade that Aussie pair of biggest basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.
Their absence indicates a transition period, as Australian guard pair Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s highest sporting income generators.
They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are expected to play for minutes around the league, including experienced big men Jock Landale and Duop Reath, up-and-coming forwards in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.
Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself
After protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m ($153m) over four years last month. It's a major deal for the Melbourne native, but in league standards it is affordable for Giddey’s position and profile as a primary ball-handler. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to pay top dollar means the 23-year-old enters this year with a point to make.
Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning 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 less competitive East, he will have to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.
Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step
The guard signed the same deal as his counterpart recently, and after his MIP honor last season, the Hawks guard’s career has taken off in the city following his exit from the New Orleans. He is now praised as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and topped the league in steals with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per match higher than the tally of second place.
Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be successful this campaign as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team advance to the postseason. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last season, and continue to enhance his passing and attacking, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded players.
Johnny Furphy On Highlight Watch
Pacers wing the rookie has emerged as a fan favourite in Indiana following a series of spectacular dunks in pre-season. His acrobatics prompted league figure 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 on the table.
Following playing just 8 mpg per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might favor youth following setback to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.
Tyrese Proctor A Long-Range Threat
Guard Proctor fell in the NBA Draft all the way to the second round, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the NBA 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 Sydney product has earned minutes in pre-season, and his NBA-ready shot offers him a chance to make an impact.
Minutes Crunch Ahead for Veteran Quintet
Seasoned centre Jock Landale has a opportunity to claim the starting centre spot in Memphis given top prospect Zach Edey will be out for the start of the season after a surgical procedure.
In the Trail Blazers, Duop Reath is the veteran backup to youthful big men Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular minutes if the team find themselves competitive. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is likely to be used as a defensive spark off the bench.
In the Hornets, Josh Green's off-season shoulder procedure has left 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 teammates at the rebuilding Hornets too much head start. And a physical issue has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee complaint and has missed key exhibition opportunities in the Mavericks.
Aussie Hoopers Fighting for Roles
Then there are those who are unlikely to see much, if any, game action this season. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is back in Minnesota, but seems to be primarily a mentor keeping Anthony Edwards focused.
Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is expected to be nurtured by Minnesota Timberwolves through their G-League team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Golden State Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the more seasoned Luke Travers will be hoping to win playing time with Proctor for the Cavs.
Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal
Should anyone question Patty Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video posted on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still sharp and focused on securing one more league deal.
What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an break in his homeland, going fishing and playing with a Sherrin. Although he took to social media last month to reject suggestions he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to surface.
