Those $150m Players Transforming a Highlight Machine

This year's NBA campaign tips off this week, marking the first time in a decade that Aussie pair of most prominent basketball stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change indicates a transition period, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with recently signed huge contracts establishing them as some of Australia’s top sporting income generators.

They aren't the only ones. A group of 14 Aussies are set to compete for playing time around the league, including veteran centres 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

Following protracted negotiations with the Bulls, the guard finally signed his rookie extension worth $100m (A$153 million) over four years recently. It's a major deal for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for his role and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for Chicago’s front office to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old enters this season with much to prove.

After being moved by Oklahoma City at the start of last campaign, Giddey watched as his old team charged to the NBA championship in his absence. As the Bulls look to make the playoffs in the weaker Eastern Conference, he will need to show his shooting and defensive skills are elite-level or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Targets Further Growth

The guard signed the identical contract 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 Pelicans. He is now praised as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per match greater than the tally of the runner-up.

Playing next to dynamic Trae Young in Atlanta, the 22-year-old can be effective this campaign as a playmaking option and elite defender as long as the team make the playoffs. But if he can improve his long-range game, which was subpar last season, and continue to enhance his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most versatile talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Pacers forward the rookie has burst onto the scene as a fan favourite in the state following a series of highlight-reel 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 long time”, and an invite to the mid-season dunk contest could be a possibility.

Following logging just eight minutes per game over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Pacers lineup that might lean towards young players following setback to lead guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard the Sydney native dropped in the June draft all the way to the 49th pick, where playoff hopefuls Cleveland picked him. The Cavaliers are front-runners to make the NBA finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be unusual for a first-year player drafted in the late picks to see significant playing minutes. But the Australian has earned time in exhibition play, and his NBA-ready shot gives him a chance to contribute.

Playing Time Squeeze Looms for Experienced Group

Veteran big man Jock Landale has a chance to claim the starting five position in the Grizzlies given highly-touted Zach Edey will be out for the start of the campaign after a surgical procedure.

In Portland, Duop Reath is the experienced reserve to young centres Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen, but could play regular action if the team find themselves in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be used 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 next season, but will not want to give his colleagues at the rebuilding Hornets an excessive advantage. And injury has already hindered Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key exhibition chances in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Additionally, there are those who are not expected to see a lot of, if any, court time this year. Thirty-eight-year-old Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a big brother ensuring Anthony Edwards focused.

Rookie Rocco Zikarsky is likely to be developed by the Wolves through their affiliate team. Fellow first-year players Lachlan Olbrich in Chicago and Alex Toohey for the Warriors are also in the slow cooker, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn playing time alongside Proctor for the Cavaliers.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Patty Mills was set to retire, he answered them with a training clip shared on his social media over the weekend, showing the veteran remains sharp and focused on securing one more league deal.

What Simmons is thinking is uncertain after an break in Australia, angling and playing with a football. Although he took to social media last month to reject suggestions he was done, the former All-Star – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has yet to return to the league.