For the first time, two Australians are playing on $100 million contracts in the same NBA season.
It's a milestone worth noting and celebrating, but it also represents a real shift. For two decades, Australia's NBA presence was carried by players like Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Aron Baynes, Patty Mills, and Joe Ingles, each of whom excelled in their own way: titles, deep playoff runs, and cult-hero status in their respective markets. Ben Simmons took the reins for a moment, but it didn't take long for him to relinquish them.
Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels have now reset that standard as the two driving forces of the Australian contingent in the NBA. Going into the 2026-27 regular season, Giddey runs Chicago's offence as the Bulls hand the keys to a new young core, while Daniels' rise into a ball-handling, All-Defensive guard was a big part of why Atlanta felt comfortable moving on from franchise player Trae Young. Neither of their roles is entirely settled this season - and we'll delve into those questions - but their standing among the Australian cohort is clear.
Further down the pay scale, there's a different kind of pressure. Tyrese Proctor has a real chance to win the backup point guard job on a contender in his second season, while Jock Landale is primed to carve out a meaningful role of his own alongside Daniels in Atlanta. He and new Jazz wing Josh Green are also both on expiring contracts, playing for their next deals with the February trade deadline looming.
Then there's the reminder of how quickly all of this can be taken away. Simmons was a week away from completing his NBA comeback with the Sacramento Kings when he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury at practice.
Others are on their way back. Johnny Furphy will return from a torn ACL at some point this season, joining a Pacers team that very well could contend, while Matisse Thybulle is looking to show his worth on a new-look Lakers roster after two injury-riddled seasons in Portland.
Watching all of it closely will be Boomers head coach Adam Caporn. The 2027 FIBA World Cup is less than a year away and, while Giddey and Daniels are the obvious pillars of the backcourt, and Landale is a lock in his own right, the NBA season will go a long way toward deciding who's around them.
Going into the new season, there are 10 Australians and one Kiwi on NBA rosters.
We've taken a look at what to expect from each of them.
READ: Cruel Achilles injury has killed the Simmons comeback Australia was dying to see
Josh Giddey - Chicago Bulls
Giddey is coming off perhaps his best yet most frustrating season in the NBA to date.
On one hand, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game -- good enough for him to hear some very faint All-Star chatter early in the season -- but he also suffered a hamstring strain that saw him miss a large chunk of action. Giddey would also undergo right ankle surgery in the off-season, but he was fully cleared to take part in training camp so the hope -- and expectation -- is that all of that is behind him.
What's in front of him is almost an entirely new cast of characters, beginning with his head coach. Tiago Splitter is now at the helm of the Bulls, guiding a team that has Giddey at the point, with the Australian surrounded by an interesting array of athletic, versatile talent. The 24-year-old will share a backcourt with sharpshooter Norman Powell, and will primarily share the floor with the Bulls' No. 4 overall draft pick Caleb Wilson, as well as the ever-dynamic Matas Buzelis, who's entering his third season in the league.
Compared to last season, there's an argument that there's less scoring firepower across the board -- which could theoretically hurt a pass-first point guard like Giddey -- but orders of magnitude more dynamism, which should elevate him as an elite downhill player and passer. Will that translate to wins for the Bulls? It's tough to really tell, but probably not. But that's fine for the franchise's new decision-makers as they finally embrace the idea of this rebuild-adjacent strategy.
This will be Giddey's third season in Chicago and, with a new front office and coaching staff, it's an important one when it comes to showing his fit. The driving force of this franchise is how they can build around Wilson -- and, to a slightly lesser extent, Buzelis -- going forward, so Giddey needs to show he can do that. Can he be the high-powered lead guard who drives the offence for a group with that sort of athletic talent? Potentially, especially if his jump-shot continues to make the strides we've seen over the past few seasons. Is it enough for Giddey to just be a connective point guard who maximises that talent? That's also a maybe.
Giddey is in the second year of that four-year, $100 million deal so there isn't an enormous amount of urgency to stamp his identity on the league, but it would be a welcome sign -- for himself, and the Bulls -- to see him establish himself as a cornerstone piece of the franchise as it turns the page from the Karnišovas/Donovan era.
Dyson Daniels - Atlanta Hawks
Daniels enters this season with a really unique opportunity in front of him.
Rewind to last season, and the Hawks' decision to trade Trae Young opened up more point guard minutes for Daniels, which he took and excelled in. Over the season, he averaged 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, and really demonstrated how high-level he could be as a ball-carrier and creator; of course, that's on top of his second straight campaign making an All-Defensive Team.
So, that's two primary skills that Daniels excels in. The next one is quite obvious: the shooting. He was an 18.8% three-point shooter last season, and 61.5% from the free throw line; with CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker set to take on the bulk of the usage from a ball-carrying perspective, Daniels' ability to space the floor becomes particularly important in order to keep defences honest. What Daniels has already demonstrated as a player is enough for him to warrant the four-year, $100 million extension that will kick in this season, but adding a consistent jumper would elevate him to a whole new level.
"Obviously, shooting was very bad last year for me, and it's been a focal point this offseason," Daniels said at the Hawks' media day. "For me, it's been about sequencing in my shot, getting more rhythm through my shot and more energy through my legs so I can get my arc up."
Another thing that will be fascinating to track is how head coach Quin Snyder incorporates Luguentz Dort into his lineups. There's a world where he -- and Aaron Wiggins -- eat into Daniels' minutes because of the superior shooting, but what's more interesting will be how they potentially play alongside each other. Daniels and Dort are two of the best, most dogged perimeter defenders in the NBA, so there's a real opportunity for them to complement each other on that end, alongside the length, athleticism, and defensive nous of Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu. Will Dort's presence see Daniels return to being an off-ball defender more often than he was last season? Would that put another 200-steal season in play?
What's fun is that there should be plenty of opportunities for Daniels to take strides this season, for a team that has a unique set of versatile, two-way players.
Jock Landale - Atlanta Hawks
It seemed as though Atlanta was home for Landale as soon as he arrived.
He was dealt to the Hawks at last season's trade deadline and put up 26 points and 11 rebounds in his first outing for the team. From there, he remained in career form -- 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds across 68 games for both Memphis and Atlanta -- for a Hawks team that had some steam going into the playoffs.
Unfortunately, a high ankle sprain ended his regular season and kept him out of a first-round series against the Knicks. The plus side was that he'd shown enough for the Hawks to want him back, signing Landale to a one-year, $14 million deal.
There are two ways to look at this, and both are legitimate. One is that Landale had carved out a fairly defined role, and looks to assume it once again; that's primarily of a backup to Onyeka Okongwu, with the point of difference that he's proven himself as a floor spacer. The three-point shooting is notable, considering what the Hawks have invested in Jalen Johnson, Daniels, and now Lu Dort; having a spacing big on the floor helps those pieces immensely. And, to be sure, Landale could also start for this Hawks team and they probably wouldn't miss a beat, by nature of the Australian's plug-and-play and complementary skillset on this roster.
The elephant in the room, of course, is that Landale is on an expiring contract that sits right in the price range of a centre at his level in this market. That makes him immensely tradeable, come the deadline in February. Of course, if all is going well in Atlanta and they're winning, there's every chance they keep Landale on their books and aim for a deep playoff run. If things are looking choppy, Landale's contract -- and capacity -- make him a very valuable asset as the trade deadline comes around.
Tyrese Proctor - Cleveland Cavaliers
There may not be an Australian with a bigger opportunity this season.
The Cavaliers are clearly enamoured by Proctor -- they wouldn't have made the draft night manoeuvres to make sure they selected him last year if that wasn't the case -- and the combo guard showed some flashes over the course of his rookie season. He averaged 5.4 points over 50 games, shooting 41.3% from the field and 35.1% from downtown, but the minutes were sporadic.
With the Cavaliers trading Dennis Schroder and Max Strus in the offseason, the door has swung wide open for Proctor to step in and assume some of those backup guard minutes behind James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
"There's a pathway for Proctor to be a full-on backup and get significant minutes behind James Harden," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on the Aussie Hoops Hour podcast. "I would think, coming into this season... Proctor has a golden opportunity to win real, strong minutes in his second season."
Proctor will be competing with Craig Porter Jr., rookie Meleek Thomas, and Sam Merrill for those minutes, but his mixture of familiarity with the roster and versatile skillset for a guard should see him get some grace from head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Harden having just turned 37 isn't insignificant in this equation either. Proctor played 48% of his minutes at point guard last season, despite often being used off the ball, and he finished the regular season with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists against Washington, so he's demonstrated where his skillset could plug and play on a team that will need to eat minutes at the point.
Johnny Furphy - Indiana Pacers
The worst part of Furphy's injury was the timing.
The Pacers were in the midst of a gap year -- almost like a one-year tank as Tyrese Haliburton recovered from his Achilles injury -- and Furphy had started 21 of his team's previous 22 games, including 18 straight. The 21-year-old averaged 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds a game, and was making gradual improvements as a young professional with obvious upside.
Unfortunately, on February 8 in Toronto, he landed awkwardly after a dunk and tore his ACL. It put an end to what were essentially free reps for Furphy; an opportunity to get meaningful minutes while his Pacers played with no expectations. It's a young player's developmental dream.
Going into this season, the good news is that Pacers GM Chad Buchanan indicated that Furphy remains on track to return to action around the midway point of the season.
Once he's cleared to play, it's tough to tell where he immediately slots in. Like their Finals campaign in 2025, Indiana's wing group is crowded, with Aaron Nesmith, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ben Sheppard, and Jarace Walker; and with Haliburton back, the Pacers expect to win again. In Furphy's favour, his contract runs beyond this season, so there's no reason to rush. Whatever he does in the second half of the season is a bonus, with the real goal being for him to be fully healthy in 2027-28.
Matisse Thybulle - Los Angeles Lakers
In a vacuum, Thybulle is the ideal player to put next to Luka Doncic.
He's cheap -- the 29-year-old just signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Lakers -- is an elite defender, and shot 41.8% from three-point range over his past two seasons. There are some similarities to what Green was as a teammate of Doncic during their time in Dallas together; putting three-and-D wings next to the Slovenian has generally been a recipe for success.
Of course, the catch is that Thybulle has only played 45 total games over the last two seasons. If he stays healthy, then he's an ideal plug-and-play option for head coach JJ Redick on this Lakers team, but the 'if' is doing a lot of work until he shows otherwise.
One thing we should probably expect with this Lakers team is for lineups to be fluid. We've seen preseason games where Thybulle starts, and others where he comes off the pine; there's a feel that Redick is still gauging what the right combinations are out there. Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia, Cameron Carr, and Sandro Mamukelashvili are all more natural and dynamic shooters relative to Thybulle, but none bring the same defensive capacity, which is crucial when sharing the floor with Doncic and Austin Reaves.
If he stays healthy, there's no doubt opportunities will consistently open up for Thybulle on this new-look Lakers team.
Josh Green - Utah Jazz
Green sure had a busy offseason.
The Charlotte Hornets sent him to Minnesota in June as part of the LaMelo Ball trade. Then Minnesota moved him again, because they needed to shed salary to sign Jonathan Kuminga with the taxpayer mid-level exception. Ultimately, he ended up with the Jazz, who were on the market for another 3-and-D wing, and the data continues to say that Green is among the best in the league at both in his position. So, after some uncertainty, he lands in Salt Lake City, where fellow Australians Joe Ingles, Danté Exum, and Patty Mills all played before him.
This is Green's seventh NBA season, and he was a key contributor to the Dallas Mavericks' 2024 Finals run, and that experience is part of why Utah wanted him. Green can play a role in helping the Jazz's young core, including No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson, but it's also worth reminding that the Sydney native is still just 25, so he's not close to his basketball prime.
Minutes for Green will be interesting to track. The Jazz have several guards and wings competing for the same minutes, and many of them more central to the roster. The team has reason to make sure Ace Bailey plays adequate minutes, while Lauri Markkanen can also eat some minutes on the wing if need be. Can Green break through and play over the likes of Josh Okogie and Brice Sensabaugh? He has the capacity to, of course, but will Will Hardy lean in that direction?
The other obvious consideration here is the contract. Green is on an expiring $14.68 million deal; and, as a 38.7% career three-point shooter who is a high-level perimeter defender, he sure is an attractive trade-deadline target for a contender. Don't be surprised if Green is wearing a fourth jersey in 12 months.
Ben Simmons - Sacramento Kings
This remains a devastating set of circumstances. There was a moment where this summary would be filled with hope and optimism, that Simmons would complete an impressive comeback to basketball; but, unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles during a practice that's set to rule him out for the entirety of his season.
The 30-year-old will miss the opportunity to take part in what was looking to be a career resurrection, of sorts, after a preseason that showed a heap of promise.
Simmons had signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Sacramento in September after impressing the Kings' staff with a workout and medical at their facility, and the plan was for him to back up rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Unfortunately, that will no longer be the case, and Simmons' career is now thrust back into uncertainty.
Simmons' contract was set to be guaranteed for $1 million had he made the Kings' opening day roster; with his Achilles tear qualifying as a significant injury under the NBA salary continuation rules, the Australian will receive his entire $3.5 million salary.
Steven Adams - Houston Rockets
Everyone is just hoping for Adams to put together a healthy season.
And by 'everyone', sure we mean most people across the NBA -- because Adams is one of the most endearing characters in the league -- but also the Rockets, who are a completely different team when the Kiwi big-man is on the floor.
Adams was having a resurgent season, averaging 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds in 32 games for the league's best rebounding team, and the Rockets had a +11.2 net rating with him on the court. He was almost single-handedly resurrecting double-big lineups in the NBA, by nature of his ability to hunt extra possessions, excelling on the floor next to fellow centre Alperen Sengun. Then, on January 18, he landed awkwardly contesting a Zion Williamson shot, and subsequently had to undergo season-ending ankle surgery.
He's back now, and has been cleared. The expectation is he'll return to being Sengun's primary backup; but, of course, don't be surprised to see them on the floor together. Houston will be careful, though; head coach Ime Udoka says he doesn't see him playing both games of back-to-backs early in the season, and Adams himself described his surgery as "complicated".
The 33-year-old will manage his minutes, because the priority for the Rockets, above all else, is to have his screening, offensive rebounding, and general physicality in April and May.
Rocco Zikarsky - Minnesota Timberwolves (two-way contract)
Zikarsky is entering the second year of what was a two-year two-way deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and his rookie season went about as well as it could have, given the circumstances.
The 7'3 centre made the G League All-Star Game, after averaging 15.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game for the Iowa Wolves; speak to some NBA executives, and they'd tell you he showed the type of talent and upside that would've made him a first round pick in the 2026 Draft.
Zikarsky -- who was the 45th overall pick in 2025 -- played five NBA games last season, and the pathway to an opportunity has seemingly become clearer. The Timberwolves dealt Julius Randle and Naz Reid, which theoretically opens up opportunities in the frontcourt, but it's important to remain realistic about a team that will attempt to contend. Zikarsky is still just 20, with Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer set to take up the bulk of the minutes at the five-spot. Still, there's a world -- however hopeful -- where Zikarsky continues to play at an extremely high level in the G-League and some minutes potentially open up for him under Chris Finch on the Timberwolves.
Duop Reath - Phoenix Suns (two-way contract)
This is a full circle moment for Reath, who was cut by the Suns after the 2022 Summer League; now, he's back in Arizona, covering for injured starter Mark Williams, who had shoulder surgery in September.
It's been a turbulent 12 months for Reath. He had season-ending surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot in January, and, soon after, Portland traded him to Atlanta, who then waived him four days later without him playing a game. Reath was in a bit of a basketball limbo when the Suns called and needed reinforcements for Williams, who was ruled out for at least five months.
The Suns converted Reath's Exhibit 10 training-camp deal into a two-way contract, which is possible because he's still two-way eligible, having only three years of NBA experience. That caps him at 50 games with the Suns.
Head coach Jordan Ott says Reath's floor spacing gives Phoenix a different look at centre, by nature of his ability to stretch the floor. The 30-year-old shot 41.8% from three-point range last season, and he has far more basketball experience than the two guys -- Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach -- in front of him on the team's likely depth chart. That point of difference in skillset and experience is reason to think that, despite being a two-way player, there's a real chance Reath carves out a role for himself on this Suns team.
