Those A$150 Million Men Transforming a Human Highlight Reel

The NBA season starts now, signaling the initial occasion in a ten years that Australia's pair of most prominent hoops stars – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – are teamless.

This change signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels step up as essential players for playoff aspirants, with new huge contracts establishing them as some of the country's top athletic earners.

They aren't the only ones. Fourteen Australians are expected to play for playing time around the league, including veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.

Josh Giddey Out to Prove Himself

Following protracted discussions with the Chicago Bulls, the guard ultimately signed his new deal worth $100m (A$153 million) over four seasons recently. It’s a huge contract for the Melburnian, but in league standards it is cheap for Giddey’s position and profile as a lead playmaker. The reluctance for the Bulls management to offer a max deal means the 23-year-old begins this year with much to prove.

Having been traded by Oklahoma City at the beginning of last campaign, Giddey watched as his former squad charged to the title in his absence. As the Chicago aim to make the playoffs in the less competitive Eastern Conference, he will need to demonstrate his scoring and defensive skills are starter-worthy or else he may fall back towards the league's outskirts.

Dyson Daniels Eyes Another Step

Daniels agreed to the identical contract as his counterpart this week, and after his most-improved player award last year, the Atlanta guard’s career has skyrocketed in Atlanta following his departure from the Pelicans. He is now lauded as one of the NBA's best defensive specialists, and led the league in takeaways with 3.0 spg – over one whole steal per game higher than the tally of second place.

Playing next to flamboyant Trae Young in the Hawks, the 22-year-old can be successful this campaign as a playmaking option and defensive stopper as long as the Hawks advance to the postseason. But if he can elevate his long-range game, which was below league average last season, and keep enhance his passing and driving, Daniels could become one of the association's most well-rounded talents.

Johnny Furphy A Dunking Sensation

Indiana forward Furphy has burst onto the scene as a crowd favorite in the state following a series of highlight-reel dunks in exhibition games. His athletic displays led league figure Pat Beverley to describe him as the “best white dunker we’ve seen in a while”, and an opportunity to the All-Star dunk contest could be on the table.

Following logging just eight minutes per contest over 50 games in his rookie campaign, the former Maribyrnong College player is in contention for a Indiana rotation that might lean towards youth following injury to star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton.

Tyrese Proctor An Outside Shot

Guard the Sydney native dropped in the NBA Draft down to the second round, where Eastern Conference contenders Cleveland selected him. The Cavaliers are favourites to reach the Finals from the Eastern Conference, so it would be rare for a rookie taken in the late picks to see much playing minutes. But the Australian has earned minutes in pre-season, and his pro-level shooting offers him a opportunity to make an impact.

Minutes Crunch Looms for Veteran Quintet

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

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 in the hunt. His fellow player Matisse Thybulle is expected to be deployed as a defensive spark off the bench.

In Charlotte, Josh Green's summer shoulder procedure has left him with no return date to return. The 24-year-old still has a contract for next season, but won’t want to give his colleagues at the developing Charlotte too much advantage. And injury has already slowed Dante Exum, who has a knee problem and has been absent for key pre-season chances in the Mavericks.

Aussie Hoopers On the Fringe

Then there are those who are unlikely to see a lot of, if any, court time this season. Veteran Joe Ingles is returned in the Timberwolves, but appears to be little more than a big brother 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 Golden State Warriors are also in the development pipeline, while the experienced Luke Travers will be aiming to earn playing time alongside Proctor for the Cavs.

Ben Simmons and Patty Mills Fish for a Deal

If there were any doubts Mills was planning to end his career, he addressed it with a workout video shared on his accounts over the weekend, demonstrating the 37-year-old is still in form and focused on landing another NBA contract.

What Simmons is thinking is anyone’s guess after an break in Australia, going fishing and using with a Sherrin. Even though he took to Instagram recently to reject rumors he was retired, the 29-year-old – an All Star as recently as 2021 – has not yet surface.