Josh Giddey has put himself in the MVP conversation to start the season while Dyson Daniels has stepped up in a big way with superstar teammate Trae Young unavailable.

Plus, one rookie has been labelled a “game-changer” after his impressive start.

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Read on for all that and more in foxsports.com.au’s latest edition of Australians in the NBA.

JOSH GIDDEY (Chicago Bulls)

Well, if you had any reservations about Giddey’s productivity levels after securing his four-year, $100 million (AU$153m) contract in the off-season, you can put those to bed. Chicago’s primary ball-handler — and Australia’s foremost basketballer — has been nothing short of superb to begin the new season; taking his playmaking and facilitating abilities to the next level as the Bulls jump out to a fast 6-1 start. Giddey has always enjoyed driving downhill, and he’s added layers to those moves — in particular getting defenders on his back as he navigates screens from the likes of Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith. Once he has leverage in those situations inside the key, he can either finish with a floating shot from close range or dish to a teammate — whether that be a rolling big man or an open shooter in the corner.

Giddey had his best performance of the young season in Wednesday’s wild comeback over Philadelphia, putting up a team-high 29 points on 10-19 field goal shooting, 15 rebounds and 12 assists to fuel the Bulls from 24 points down to their sixth win from seven games. In the process, he became the first Chicago player to record back-to-back triple-doubles since Michael Jordan achieved the feat in the 1988-89 season, while passing Scottie Pippen (6) for second-most 20-point triple-doubles in franchise history.

It was also his sixth-straight double-double and fifth 20-point outing of the young season. As of Tuesday, Giddey is averaging 21.4 points on 46.3 per cent shooting, 9.6 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game. He’s also going at a three-point clip of 38.5 per cent on 4.3 attempts.

Giddey’s Bulls no match for Giannis | 00:52

The Aussie floor general continues to be an aggressive outside shooter as he progressively improves his clip, but it was a true point guard play in the waning seconds that sealed Chicago’s win over the Sixers. Down one point with 14 seconds left in the contest, Giddey received the inbounds pass, drove hard left to the basket — drawing multiple Philly defenders in the process — before dazzling with an insane wraparound pass on the baseline to find an open Nikola Vucevic in the corner for the game-winning three-ball.

Josh Giddey’s passing is elite. (AP Photo/Phil Long)Source: AP

It’s those kinds of plays that are becoming more and more commonplace in Giddey’s game, and he’s making them in clutch time. As Bulls icon and broadcast analyst Stacey King loves to say: “Big-time players make big-time plays.” And Chicago has a big-time player in the sport’s most crucial position.

Giddey finished just shy of another double-double in his latest game; a tight loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Australian went down clutching his ankle earlier in the game and while he had a few nice plays to close it out, Giddey didn’t look 100 per cent.

“I was kind of on my tippy toes, so it’s kind of a weak point of your ankle,” Giddey said to reporters, including The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi.

“As he made the crossover, I was up on my tippy toes and tried to change direction, and my ankle kind of just rolled a little bit. But yeah, it’s not a good highlight reel to be on.

“Good move by him.”

DYSON DANIELS (Atlanta Hawks)

We’ve come to expect menacing defensive acts from Daniels on a nightly basis. That part of the reigning NBA steals leader’s game remains unquestioned and on the weekend, the Australian made history with at least one steal in 62 consecutive games.

It’s been the development of his offensive game that is the ongoing talking point, despite putting pen to paper on a four-year, $100 million (AU$153m) contract extension in the off-season. With burgeoning star Jalen Johnson back in the Hawks’ lineup after an injury-interrupted 2024-25 season, plus All-Star guard Trae Young and dynamic seven-foot-two scorer Kristaps Porzingis in the fold, questions continue to hover over how much scope Daniels actually has to expand his fledgling offensive profile.

But with Young suddenly sidelined with a knee ligament sprain — set to keep the prolific scoring guard out for at least four weeks — Daniels has been able to flash more of his playmaking ability that irrefutably doesn’t come to the fore as much with ‘Ice Trae’ in the lineup. In the first three games without Young in the lineup, Daniels scored 18 points. He had an inefficient seven-point showing in a loss to Toronto but was still heavily involved with eight rebounds and eight assists, before backing it up with 10 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in a big 122-102 win over the Lakers. In the five games prior to that to start the season, Daniels had managed just 5.4 points per game.

Dyson Daniels has stepped up. Todd Kirkland/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

Daniels also helped hold Luka Doncic to just 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field in the win over the Lakers, although it was a joint effort and speaking after the game, the Australian — even if not intended as a subtle shot — exposed L.A.’s lack of athleticism and team speed.

“My teammates are ready for the rotations, being up and trapping him and stuff like that,” Daniels said.

“The tired part, I think that’s more mental. L.A. is not a very fast team. They didn’t play up and down. So I was able to — I wasn’t in defensive transition as much. But I think the tired part is a lot more mental on a back-to-back than it is physically.”

Last Wednesday, the ‘Great Barrier Thief’ had one of his best performances of the young season, helping fill the void left by Young. The athletic six-foot-eight guard scored an equal-season-high 18 points — on an uber-efficient 8-9 shooting — adding six rebounds, six assists and two steals in the 127-112 win. Daniels was also a game-high +25 in the plus-minus category in a team-high 35 minutes.

Daniels, as he has done previously with a high level of success, played a key shutdown role on star Magic guard Franz Wagner, but playing more of an on-ball role on offence, he impressed with his facilitation and playmaking. In particular, Dyson loves the spin move when driving to the basket. And while he’s a right-hander, he’ll typically start driving left before spinning on his defender and finishing with a righty floater. It’s a sweet move and one he should continue to go to as long as opponents aren’t catching on.

TYRESE PROCTOR (Cleveland Cavaliers)

The second-round rookie saw meaningful playing time from the jump and has continued to carve out a solid role in Cleveland’s rotation as a handy 3-and-D wing with the potential for more.

Proctor earned immediate praise from Donovan Mitchell earlier in the season, with Cleveland’s superstar guard calling the Australian a “game-changer”.

“When you have guys like that who are able to create and initiate the offence, find guys, especially for a rookie like that’s big time,” Mitchell said.

“And, he’s got ‘it,’ and you’re starting to see it every night. He’s cold. I like him.”

Proctor certainly isn’t lacking confidence, having gone on a four-game stretch without a three-pointer before making five of six in a 17-point statement game against Washington.

The 21-year-old then backed it up with two big three-pointers in a 128-122 victory over fellow Eastern Conference contenders Chicago.

Kenny Atkinson credited Proctor for helping “change the game” in Cleveland’s 118-100 win over Detroit last month and it is clear the Cavaliers coach has the trust in the rookie guard to produce when his number is called.

Proctor ignites in the fourth | 01:07

LUKE TRAVERS (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Travers has started to see more playing time recently, having not featured in Cleveland’s opening few games. With the Cavs’ depth tested, Travers had seen seven and three minutes before an extended 15-minute run in a 112-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Travers had one particularly nice defensive rep on Ja’Kobe Walter but outside of that he didn’t do much to prove that he should be a part of Cleveland’s plans moving forward, especially given this is a team with genuine title ambitions.

He then saw nine minutes in a blowout win against Washington, stuffing the stats sheet with four points, two rebounds, two assists, one block and a steal.

But when the squad is healthy, Travers is still unlikely to see many minutes and instead is expected to spend most of the season playing for Cleveland’s G-League affiliate, the Charge.

JOHNNY FURPHY (Indiana Pacers)

Right as he’d started to come onto the scene in the new season, Furphy is set for some time on the sidelines. After 13 minutes of action, Furphy suffered a left ankle sprain in last Tuesday’s loss to Milwaukee, and according to reports, he left the locker room on crutches afterwards. Furphy had already dealt with left foot and ankle issues in the pre-season, which had impeded his progress to start the campaign. The second-year guard-forward had been inactive for four games prior to the Pacers’ past two matchups with the Bucks and Golden State Warriors. Furphy played a season-high 23 minutes against the Warriors in the five-point win — scoring five points with three rebounds — in a promising sign that he’d broken into Rick Carlisle’s rotation, but this latest setback could be costly. Furphy will not be a part of Indiana’s four-game road trip and Carlisle said his absence could extend beyond that.

ALEX TOOHEY (Golden State Warriors)

Toohey has yet to suit up for Golden State as he continues to be without a timetable for return amid a left knee injury. Regardless, the six-foot-eight power forward — drafted in the second round — isn’t expected to see much playing time in his rookie season. When healthy, the expectation is that Toohey would see healthy minutes with Golden State’s G-League affiliate, Santa Cruz, although the injury meant he missed their opening game of the season too.

That doesn’t mean that Toohey won’t benefit from being in and around some of the most experienced players in the NBA who know a thing or two about winning. That includes four-time champion and four-time All-Star Draymond Green, who Toohey was able to spend two weeks being mentored by.

“Just speaking to Draymond was big,” Toohey told the Bay Area News Group.

“Hearing about his journey and how he impacts the game on defense. That’s something I want to learn, to get to his level. How he’s developed his basketball IQ by watching games and understanding player’s tendencies.

“The big thing (I learned) is, when speaking to Draymond, is knowing players’ tendencies,”

Toohey has recently been sidelined with tendonitis in his knee but is hopeful of returning to the court soon and when he does, the Australian said he is looking forward to being a “connector” for Santa Cruz and, potentially, one day Golden State.

Alex Toohey will spend most of the year in the G-League. (Photo by Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

DANTE EXUM (Dallas Mavericks)

There is an opportunity for Exum to contribute for this Mavericks team without Kyrie Irving, but he has continued to battle a knee injury that has sidelined him all season and there is no clarity as for when he could return to the court.

The Mavericks have experimented with playing first overall pick Cooper Flagg but it seems like they are putting too much on his plate by forcing him to play out of position, so having an extra ball-handling option like Exum would be handy right now.

JOE INGLES (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Ingles continues to be restricted to playing in garbage time, with the veteran recording three assists in a season-high nine minutes as the Timberwolves thrashed his former team, the Utah Jazz.

But he remains an important locker room presence and sometimes we get a glimpse into what exactly that looks like, with a viral moment between Ingles and teammate Naz Reid surfacing on social media last week.

In it, a less-than-impressed Reid went to the bench after picking up two quick fouls only to lighten up alongside guard Bones Hyland after a joke from Ingles.

JOCK LANDALE (Memphis Grizzlies)

Landale has made the most of his opportunity with regular starting centre Zach Edey sidelined, recording his sixth-straight game with 10 or more points on Monday.

Landale had 10 points, five rebounds and three assists in the 114-100 loss to Oklahoma City and has been a dependable option in the frontcourt for the Grizzlies, while also offering some much-needed spacing especially when you consider Ja Morant’s early shooting slump.

The Boomers big man is averaging a ridiculous 63.6 per cent from downtown on 2.8 attempts per game while still getting through all the dirty work as a screener and rebounder that has kept him on the court throughout his NBA career.

While Landale will revert back to the bench when Edey is healthy, his recent production proves he is a more than capable fill-in option moving forward should injuries strike again.

Edey is expected to return to the court very shortly after offseason ankle surgery delayed his start to the season.

Jock Landale has impressed. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Source: AP

DUOP REATH (Portland Trail Blazers)

It was always going to be hard for Reath to see consistent playing time given the recent draft capital the Trail Blazers have invested at the centre position in recent years.

First, Portland drafted Donovan Clingan before then doubling down in the frontcourt by selecting Hansen Yang while Robert Williams has also returned from injury and started to earn playing time.

Reath does give the Trail Blazers a different look though as a stretch big and proved it with a 12-point performance off the bench to help Portland to a 121-119 upset win over the defending champions Oklahoma City.

Interim Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter said after that game that Reath’s shooting was “amazing” and called his defence “solid” too, with the Australian even celebrating one of his three-pointers with an iconic Michael Jordan-inspired shrug.

Speaking afterwards, Reath — who received the game ball — said that even if the minutes aren’t always consistent he is focused on always being ready to contribute when his name is called.

“(I) just try to help the team in any way I can. Play with some energy,” Reath said.

“The guys believe in me. The coaching staff believes in me. I believe in myself. You shoot with confidence… just keep playing hard.

“I feel like my role is just to stay ready… whatever the team needs in the moment, if that’s me playing one minute, if that’s me playing 20 minutes – just to contribute.

“Even if I don’t play just to contribute on the bench and stay ready to support the guys.”

Reath then had another two three-pointers in a 136-131 loss to the Heat and is now shooting at 58.8 per cent from deep and 2.3 attempts per game on the season.

Duop Reath had a big game against the Thunder. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

LACHLAN OLBRICH (Chicago Bulls)

Predictably, Olbrich is yet to see any playing time with the Bulls in his rookie season. The expectation is that the 21-year-old big man — who had a couple of nice moments in the Summer League — will instead see extended minutes with Chicago’s G-League affiliate, Windy City.

Olbrich impressed in his first minutes for the Bulls’ G-League side, recording a team-high 24 points and 15 rebounds while also adding four assists as he showed off his well-rounded ability in a win over the Wisconsin Herd.

Olbrich impressed with his finishing at the rim while he also got a floater to drop late in the game and splashed a 3-pointer too, with the Bulls posting a highlights package of the Australian’s scoring plays.

ROCCO ZIKARSKY (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Zikarsky is yet to play an NBA minute in his rookie campaign, and the expectation is that won’t change, pending an injury to one of Rudy Gobert or Naz Reid. The seven-foot-two centre flashed promising signs of mobility and shotmaking during pre-season action but is set to see most of his action this year with Minnesota’s G-League affiliate, Iowa.

Speaking of which, Zikarsky has shown glimpses of both his enormous potential and the early growing pains which make it important not to read too heavily into the 19-year-old’s production either way.

Zikarsky opened his G-League campaign with 15 points, three rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes as the Iowa Wolves beat the Cleveland Charge.

Zikarsky then followed it up with an inefficient four-point outing where he went 1-of-7 from the field, although he had seven rebounds and two blocks.

If the 19-year-old can continue to use his 7-foot-3 frame to his advantage as a rim protector and rebounder, there is plenty of room for patience when it comes to his shot-making.

Rocco Zikarsky has shown flashes of his potential. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

JOSH GREEN (Charlotte Hornets)

Green underwent left shoulder surgery in June and is still yet to make his season debut. According to Hornets medical updates, the guard remains a day-to-day prospect as he continues to build back into playing shape, with no concrete timeline on a playing return date.

MATISSE THYBULLE (Portland Trail Blazers)

Thybulle has suffered a setback to begin his campaign, undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. The procedure is set to cost him between four and six weeks on the sidelines. The 28-year-old guard sustained the injury in the Blazers’ two-point win over the Utah Jazz. Thybulle had averaged five points and one rebound in four games prior to the injury. It comes after the seven-year NBA veteran was hindered by knee and ankle issues last season which cost him the majority of the 2024-25 campaign, playing just 15 games; the lowest tally of his career. The thumb injury is just the latest unfortunate turn in Thybulle’s career, with the Australian telling reports before the season tipped off that he was simply looking forward to getting back on the court again. Thybulle had made an immediate impact in his return, both as a shooter and defensive stopper, but now will again have to focus on getting healthy and returning for a Portland team that has surprised this season with big scalps over Western Conference heavyweights Oklahoma City and Denver.