Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The bulk of Australia’s contingent of NBA players get their campaigns started on Thursday (WA time) as the new season gets underway. Here’s what to expect from each of them.
Josh Giddey (Chicago)
The recently-turned 24-year-old is now the face of the league among Aussies in the NBA as he prepares to enter his prime. Giddey is in his third season with the Bulls and is looking to combine with highly-rated rookie Caleb Wilson to spearhead a new era at the rebuilding franchise, coming off a campaign where he averaged 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds with typical all-round impact.
Dyson Daniels (Atlanta)
The Hawks are considered on the way up, and Daniels again looms as a key piece. ‘The Great Barrier Thief’ added to his All-Defensive First Team honour from 2024-25 with an All-Defensive Second Team nod last season, and will be the head of the snake when it comes to Atlanta stifling the impact of the eastern conference’s biggest stars. Will continue to eye improvement in his long-range shooting.
Jock Landale (Atlanta)
Landale joined Daniels in Atlanta in the middle of last season, but gets a chance to carve out a regular spot in Quin Snyder’s rotation off the back of a full pre-season. Expect him to log regular minutes behind Onyeka Okongwu as a back-up centre who can stretch the floor with his shooting.
Josh Green (Utah)
It looms as a defining season for Green, who turns 26 next month and begins life at the Jazz. The wing was traded twice in as many months over the off-season, departing Charlotte for Minnesota before landing in Utah. Though coming off a career-best three-point shooting year, he faces a challenge to find a regular bench role on a Jazz roster that is expected to press for a playoff spot.
Tyrese Proctor (Cleveland)
Proctor is one of the lesser-known Aussies, but has the chance to carve out an impactful role on a legitimate title contender at the Cavaliers. The second-year guard should be entrusted with backcourt bench minutes behind the superstar tandem of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell as the Cavs look to avenge their eastern conference finals loss to eventual champs New York.
Matisse Thybulle (LA Lakers)
Injury issues have limited the defensive ace to just 45 games across the past two seasons. Having shifted from Portland to the Lakers, Thybulle now gets to link up with Luka Doncic – the man he kept in check in the bronze medal game at the Tokyo Olympics to help seal the Boomers’ historic result five years ago.
Johnny Furphy (Indiana)
It’s a comeback season for both Furphy and the Pacers. The energetic guard played a small role on Indiana’s fairytale run to the 2025 NBA finals, but succumbed to a torn ACL in an injury-ravaged campaign to forget for the franchise last season. He’s on track to resume his reserve role at some point in the second half of the season, with expectations once again high for the Pacers as superstar Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) resumes.
Rocco Zikarsky (Minnesota)
The 221cm giant is on a two-way contract at the Wolves, and faces a challenge to crack regular minutes at centre if Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer stay healthy.
Duop Reath (Phoenix)
Another on a two-way contract, having been called up to the Suns from Portland in the off-season. Reath could be a chance to log some early-season minutes as a reserve amid fellow centre Mark Williams’ shoulder injury.
Ben Simmons (Sacramento)
Unfortunately, Simmons’ comeback season was derailed before it even began. An Achilles rupture on the practice court just days before the season opener robbed the league of one of its most intriguing players, with the 30-year-old having shown promising signs following his year-long hiatus away from basketball.
