Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
A new coach and a remodelled Chicago roster bodes well for “walking triple-double” Josh Giddey to fly the Australian NBA flag again.
Ben Simmons’ comeback-crushing Achilles rupture will keep him out all season for Sacramento, leaving nine Australians likely to see minutes in the 2026-27 campaign.
Not including the US, Australia will be the third-most represented country in the league, behind France (17) and Canada (16).
Bulls guard Giddey and Atlanta pair Dyson Daniels and Jock Landale loom as the most prominent, while Matisse Thybulle’s arrival in Los Angeles could breath fresh life into the Olympic bronze medallist’s career.
Tyrese Proctor has spent the off-season scheming with Cleveland teammates and fellow guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell while Josh Green, Duop Reath and Rocco Zikarsky will compete for opportunities and Johnny Furphy won’t feature until later this season.
But for five-time Olympian Joe Ingles, back in the NBL with Melbourne United after a 12-year, it’s hard to go past Giddey.
“We’ll have another big year from him,” Ingles, an ‘NBA on Prime’ ambassador, told AAP.
The Bulls started well last season before falling away badly in a 31-51 campaign.
Coach Billy Donovan was replaced by Tiago Splitter and a new-look front office ushering in a wave of young, athletic talent headlined by No.4 pick Caleb Wilson.
Giddey, 24, averaged 17 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game last year and has 18 triple-doubles for the Bulls and 30 in his career.
This season will likely be another rebuilding campaign for the side, but the stage has been set for Giddey to shine.
“He’s showed he’s a nearly walking triple-double every game and was saying he hasn’t had as many high flyers as what he’s got this year,” Ingles said.
“That opens up for his passing ability but also opens up the lanes and for him to be more aggressive.
“And with a new coach too, how does that open him up?”
But Ingles tempered any expectations of seeing more of former Timberwolves teammate Zikarsky – the league’s fifth-tallest player at 221cm – at NBA level this year.
“Selfishly, I want to see all the Australians start and average 20 (points) a game but will he (Zikarsky) play much this year?,” Ingles posed.
“Probably not with the Wolves, but does he keep developing in the G League?
“Again, selfishly for the Boomers’ sake, you hope he does, and then obviously he can get a call up play some minutes with the Wolves too.”
