The 2025-26 season tips off in a fortnight, with defending champions Oklahoma City facing one of its biggest threats in the West — the Houston Rockets before LeBron James and Steph Curry headline another blockbuster clash of Western Conference contenders.
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There will be plenty of Australian storylines to follow in this new season too, from how Josh Giddey performs with new expectations after signing a new contract with the Bulls while good friend Dyson Daniels is targeting a new deal of his own in Atlanta.
Plus, second-year guard Johnny Furphy could be Australia’s biggest breakout player to watch if preseason talk is anything to go by.
Ben Simmons and Patty Mills remain without a contract and look likely to start the NBA season as free agents, but in the time being foxsports.com.au has all the latest information you need to know about the 15 Australians who will be suiting up for another year.
DYSON DANIELS (Atlanta Hawks)
This season is all about at minimum backing up if not improving on his impressive first season in Atlanta, which saw Daniels crowned the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
He has an added incentive to do so too, with the 22-year-old potentially heading into next summer a restricted free agent.
That is, if the Hawks can’t come to an agreement with Daniels on an extension before the October 20 deadline for players entering the final season of their rookie contracts.
For reference, the Hawks signed Jalen Johnson to a five-year, $150 million rookie extension on the final day before the start of the regular season in 2024.
If Atlanta opts against signing Daniels to an extension before the deadline he could enter restricted free agency like Giddey, and while there wasn’t much of a market for him this summer that said more about the amount of teams with available cap space than the Bulls guard himself.
That could change in the 2026 offseason and NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote that he believes Daniels could “quite easily command offer sheets at that $30 million-per-season level if we see at least three teams with the cap space to make such offers in the 2026 offseason”.
As for where the Hawks and Daniels stand in contract negotiations, it is only early but Fischer reported he is hearing there is “some distance” between the two parties at the moment.
From Atlanta’s side, while Daniels obviously played at an elite level on the defensive end last season, there are legitimate reasons to question his ceiling if he can’t be a more consistent shooter.
But that is all part of Daniels’ all-round development and at just 22 years old, the ‘Great Barrier Thief’ still has plenty of time to add new wrinkles to his game.
Dyson Daniels had a big first year in Atlanta. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Daniels told reporters at media day that he had more time this offseason to “make improvements in a lot of areas” of his game given his previous two summers were spent playing at the World Cup and then the Olympics.
Daniels said he did a lot of work on his mid-range game and in general put more focus on improving the offensive side of his game given defence has “always” been his “backbone”.
“Getting to spots, different pickups, footwork into shots — just developing the offensive bag,” Daniels said.
“We’re deep this year — playing off guys like Trae (Young), with KP (Kristaps Porzingis) coming in, and Nickeil (Alexander-Walker) — so I’m fitting my role and playing it to the best of my ability.”
Daniels did make improvements as a shooter last season, averaging 14.1 points per game on 49 per cent from the field and 34 per cent from downtown.
The Australian credited coach Quinn Snyder for empowering him and giving him the confidence to thrive in his first season with the Hawks after the trade from New Orleans left him “rocked a little bit” according to father Ricky.
“Coach Q was huge. He gave me confidence, gave me a starting role, and told me to be myself,” Daniels said.
“He’s never told me not to shoot or not to make a play. It was also my mindset — I wasn’t happy with my first two years; I wasn’t aggressive, I felt I took a step back.
“I wanted to change my career trajectory: play free, fear no one. I did that and want to build on it every year.”
Daniels made big defensive plays, including a clutch steal on De’Aaron Fox. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
While last season was obviously a big step in the right direction for Daniels, he told Inside the NBA after winning the MIP award that he believed he could win the award twice.
“I know I’ve got so much more left in me to show in this league and so much more improvement,” said Daniels.
Developing his mid-range game will be a big part of that while Daniels also said he wanted to take more charges and draw more offensive fouls.
“Basketball has some selling to it — if you get hit on a screen, you have to sell it or you won’t get the call,” Daniels said.
“It’s about knowing when to do that and when to stay disciplined, fight through, and get back in front.
“I’m looking forward to the game slowing down more this year so I can execute those reads.”
While the offence runs through Trae Young, Daniels will also likely have to play on the ball more often this season with no true back-up point guard on the roster.
Daniels already had to take on more ball-handling duties when Jalen Johnson went down last year, so it is something the 22-year-old is more than happy to embrace — especially when Young is on the bench.
“One of my strengths is pace,” Daniels said.
“We have athletes who can run — Jalen (Johnson), Naji (Marshall), our wings.
“When Trae is off, we can use size and length and play fast. Going into year four, I’m more comfortable at that spot and know what to expect. It’s about building trust so the staff knows someone will be disciplined and run the team.”
On defence, even if Daniels was one of the best perimeter stoppers in the league, there are still areas the 22-year-old wants to improve.
Specifically, Daniels told reporters at media day he was focusing on help defence, being more vocal in directing teammates and fighting through screens when defending on the ball.
Can Daniels go to another level this season? (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
JOSH GIDDEY (Chicago Bulls)
While Daniels is in the early stages of contract negotiations with the Hawks, Giddey has clarity on his playing future after signing a four-year, $100 million fully guaranteed contract with the Bulls.
Giddey told reporters at media day there were “never any bad feelings” between himself and the Bulls, adding that Chicago was “where I wanted to be”.
“I never had any worries I wasn’t going to be here,” Giddey added.
“This was where I wanted to be. They embraced me from day one when I first got here — teammates, front office and the fans — and it felt like home really quickly.
“Obviously what we did last year, particularly in the back half of the year, it gave me a lot of confidence that this team was able to continue to take steps in the right direction.
“I built really good relationships with people, not only in the organisation, but outside of the building in the city, and it felt like home quickly.
“Right from the jump, I made sure my agent knew this is where I wanted to be. I want to be here long-term.”
Chicago has obviously committed to Giddey in the long-term too and now that he has his contract, it is on the Australian to prove that he can be a cornerstone piece for a Bulls team that has been stuck on the treadmill of mediocrity for far too long.
It is a big year for Giddey. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Source: AP
If this wasn’t already Giddey’s team, trading away Zach LaVine before the deadline last year only further signalled that he would be given the keys to the offence and while Coby White will still get his on a nightly basis, the dynamic guard is still after a contract extension of his own and it is looking increasingly likely the Bulls won’t be able to afford him.
If that is the case, he could be a trade candidate himself or otherwise will enter free agency next year with a host of potential suitors.
All of this is to say it will be a big year for Giddey, who ended last season on a tear after averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists following the 2025 All-Star break while shooting 46 per cent on 3-point attempts.
Giddey said when he first arrived in Chicago via trade he was “probably trying to fit in a little bit too much”.
With clarity surrounding his role and standing in the team, Giddey can now work on improving his game with defence and shooting two points of focus in the offseason.
The 22-year-old also told reporters he is hoping to be more of a leader in his second season with the Bulls, which only seems a gradual next step for Giddey after signing his new contract.
“Every leader is different. Some guys are loud vocal guys. Some guys lead by example. I think I’m just naturally more of a reserved guy,” Giddey said.
“I’m not a big yell or scream type of leader, but I think taking a step in that role, using my voice more.
“Especially as a point guard, you kind of have to be vocal and I feel like on the floor I am, but away from the floor in timeouts and huddles and at halftime breaks, I can be more of a leader in those types of things.
“That’s probably the big area for me that I want to continue to grow in.”
There are high expectations of Giddey this season. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Source: AP
LACHLAN OLBRICH (Chicago Bulls)
As for Giddey’s new Australian teammate, it seems like Olbrich will spend most of his time in his rookie year playing for the Windy City Bulls, Chicago’s G-League affiliate, after signing a two-way deal.
Olbrich is stuck behind Zach Collins and Jalen Smith in the back-up centre rotation, although a Nikola Vucevic trade could open up minutes for the Illawarra Hawks championship winner later in the season.
Olbrich speaks during media availability after practice. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TYRESE PROCTOR (Cleveland Cavaliers)
There won’t be many minutes early on in his rookie season, but there is plenty of room for Proctor to grow and develop at his own time stuck at the bottom of a deep backcourt rotation.
Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are obviously entrenched as the clear starters, while veterans Lonzo Ball, Sam Merrill and Max Strus will make it hard for Proctor to get much of a role in the rotation early.
But all the talk from Kenny Atkinson suggests it will be only a matter of time before Proctor earns some minutes, with the Cavaliers coach revealing one veteran player told him the Australian “looks like he belongs” in the NBA.
“A lot of times with rookies, you know, you’re like, ‘Do they really belong?’ Right now, it feels like he belongs,” Atkinson added.
“The question with Tyrese right now is, is he gonna be able to handle the physicality? It’s not his skill level — that’s high enough. His compete level’s high enough.”
If there was one question of Proctor as a prospect entering the league it was whether he would be able to handle the physicality of playing in the NBA, with the former Duke guard needing time to build strength in his lower body.
It seems like that is something the Cavaliers are aware of too, with Atkinson telling reporters Proctor will use his rookie year to “build his body”.
“He’s gonna push us to make decisions,” the Cleveland coach added.
Proctor was projected as a potential late first-round pick but instead was made to wait until 49th overall, when the Cavaliers pounced for what was widely called one of the steals of the draft.
Proctor admitted the draft experience was a “rollercoaster” given he thought he was going in the first round but said he would use it as motivation ahead of his first season in the NBA.
“It’s just attacking the situation with a strong mentality and proving not only to myself, but to other people why I should be in the NBA and why I should stick and play for a long time,” Proctor said.
Proctor will look to earn rotation minutes. Jason Miller/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
LUKE TRAVERS (Cleveland Cavaliers)
If Proctor is going to be battling for minutes early on in his rookie season, it is going to be even harder for Travers to break into the rotation for a Cavaliers team with championship ambitions.
Travers played just 12 games last season, although it was hardly a surprise given he was signed to a two-way contract and expected to spend most of the year in the G-League unless Cleveland battled injuries.
The former Melbourne United guard played in 21 games for the Charge, averaging 17 points, 9.8 rebounds and seven assists per game.
Shooting and defence will be the main areas of focus for Travers as he looks to earn bench minutes for the Cavaliers given he has already shown he has the rebounding and playmaking at his size to be an intriguing depth option.
Travers told reporters at media day that he has “internal goals” for this season that he will keep to himself, but that broadly he wants to prove that he “fits at this level”.
“It starts with preseason — it’s going to be huge for me to prove I belong and can thrive at this level,” Travers said.
“Versatility, especially on defence.
“I can guard one through four, sometimes even one through five.
“That’s my biggest strength, and with all the switching in today’s NBA, being able to defend guards and also switch onto bigs is huge.”
Travers answers questions from the media. Nick Cammett/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
JOHNNY FURPHY (Indiana Pacers)
If there is one Australian on the verge of a breakout season, it is Furphy.
He showed flashes in his rookie season and was forced into a larger role than expected early in the year due to injuries and once again, opportunity knocks for Furphy ahead of his sophomore campaign.
Furphy averaged just 7.6 minutes per game in the regular season and 3.2 in the playoffs as a rookie, but a season-ending injury to Tyrese Haliburton has opened up playing time.
Furphy will likely be battling third-year wings Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard for minutes in Indiana’s wing rotation.
Based on the positive buzz coming out of Pacers training camp from both coach Rick Carlisle and Furphy’s teammates, the Australian is well positioned to embrace the added responsibility.
In fact, Haliburton himself singled out Furphy as one player to watch this season.
“A lot of different guys have gotten better in so many different areas,” Haliburton said.
“I think if I were to single out a guy, I would say Johnny Furphy has looked really good.
“I thought he looked really good in the Summer League, and then he’s just been a gym rat. Since then, he went to Australia right after Summer League, and he’s been back for a while. He was one of the first guys back with me.
“That’s just who Furphy is. He lives in the weight room. He lives in the gym, so it’s great to see him doing what he’s doing and growing into his own as an NBA player. I look forward to seeing what year two looks like for him.”
Furphy has impressed his teammates. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Haliburton wasn’t the only one sing Furphy’s praise, with veteran guard T.J. McConnell also noticing the leap the Australian has taken ahead of his second season.
“Just the confidence that he’s playing with on both ends of the floor, he just looks more comfortable,” McConnell said.
“The game’s slowing down… he’s been in the gym and putting in the work and it’s showing.”
Even if Haliburton or McConnell wasn’t giving Furphy a shout-out, the Melbourne native has been creating plenty of buzz for himself after that ferocious dunk on Bulls rookie Noa Essengue went viral.
Furphy then backed it up with another dunk on Jay Huff at Pacers practice, showing off the athleticism that has Pacers teammates confident he can reach a new level in his second season.
Former Slam Dunk Contest champion Obi Toppin said he “almost flipped over the couch” in reaction to the dunk on Essengue, while McConnell called Furphy’s effort “pretty spectacular”.
“Furph’s got some bounce. It was good to see him attack the rim like that and especially finish it that way,” he added.
Coach Carlisle, meanwhile, called the Australian a “fearless athlete”.
“He attacks. He attacks everything, he’s unafraid, he’s tough,” Carlisle said.
“Every day he gets better.”
Furphy said being more consistent as a shooter has been a big focus in the offseason along with improving his defence, and the size the 20-year-old has put on in the summer will only help with achieving that second goal.
“I’m feeling more comfortable in my body being able to absorb contact,” Furphy said.
“It’s nice knowing what to expect going into my second year. I know where my biggest areas for improvement are. I’m a long way from where I need to be, but I’m heading in the right direction.”
Carlisle, meanwhile, said Furphy’s ability to guard two through four will also put him in a position to earn more minutes while also adding that his strengths play into Indiana’s identity as a team that wants to push the pace on offence.
“I love Furphy. The guy plays balls out, fast, hard. He’s one of our best cutters, one of our best rebounders, crashers,” the Pacers coach said.
“He’s grown. He’s gotten stronger. He’s just an aggressive guy. This year we’re going to need that kind of defiant attitude with all of our guys and how they compete.
“He and (Ben) Shepherd are just run through a wall guys. They just go hard.”
Furphy could have a breakout second season. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
DANTE EXUM (Dallas Mavericks)
Exum could play a prominent role early in the season for Dallas with Kyrie Irving confirming earlier in the week that there is “no timetable” for his return from a torn ACL.
The Mavericks signed D’Angelo Russell as their starting point guard to fill the void until Irving is healthy but they need depth options behind him, which is where Exum comes into the frame.
Dallas signed Exum to a one-year extension in July. He was inactive at the start of training camp and then missed the first preseason game of the year due to undisclosed reasons.
Exum returns to Dallas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ALEX TOOHEY (Golden State Warriors)
Like the other rookies taken in this year’s draft class, Toohey is expected to spend most of his first season in the G-League after signing a two-way contract with the Warriors.
Toohey said he was having issues with tendinitis in his knee during Summer League but is “definitely getting on top of it” and expects to be healthy for the start of the season.
While Toohey won’t see much playing time in his rookie year, it will still be a good opportunity to learn from some of the best players in the league including Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
Speaking of Butler, Toohey told reporters at media day he went to the Warriors superstar’s house in San Diego during the offseason and learned a very important — and hilarious — lesson.
“I learned that you can do quite a few things with money,” Toohey laughed.
Toohey dribbles against Miami Heat guard Kira Lewis Jr. (Photo by Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TARAN ARMSTRONG (Golden State Warriors)
Toohey was supposed to have another Australian teammate in Armstrong, who had a two-way qualifying offer on the table from the Warriors, but basketball.com.au reported he has instead signed with EuroLeague’s KK Partizan.
Taran Armstrong getting a pre-season run with the Warriors. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
JOE INGLES (Minnesota Timberwolves)
If you want an idea of the role — both literally and metaphorically — that Ingles is going to play this year with the Timberwolves, just watch Minnesota’s first preseason game against Denver.
Ingles, at 38 years old, put up the lob for 18-year-old Joan Beringer.
Once again, the veteran Ingles will be making plays for and imparting wisdom on the younger players in the squad.
For the most part, Ingles isn’t expected to see many minutes after averaging just six minutes in his 19 games played with the Timberwolves last season.
It will be his 12th season in the NBA and while there was some thought that the 38-year-old could have considered retiring, Ingles revealed at media day that his daughter Milla was not having any of it.
“We asked the kids this year, and Milla wanted me to play because she wants to wear her new jeans to a game,” Ingles laughed.
“That was her reason.”
Ingles started just one game last season, which was an intentional move on coach Chris Finch’s part given the Australian’s family, including autistic son Jacob, were in attendance.
Ingles said his first year in Minnesota was “tough” given he was away from his family in Orlando for so long, admitting the move was “way harder than we thought it would be”.
“You always think it’ll work out, and it did, but it’s hard when you’ve got nine-year-olds and a four-year-old. They’re at the age where they understand Dad’s not around,” Ingles added.
“Having my daughter in tears the last few nights before coming back — those are the things that go through my mind every year.
“Is it worth it to do it again, or do I just go be with them? But the support from Renee and even the kids.”
Ingles is back in Minnesota. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)Source: AP
As for how much longer he will go on, Ingles said that ever since he tore his ACL in late 2022, he has taken it “year by year” and been happy to take one-year deals.
Most recently, he signed a veteran’s minimum contract with the Timberwolves to stick around another year.
“I’m definitely still competitive,” Ingles said.
“You’ve seen bits of that fire in our scrimmages. Once you lose that, it’s easy to retire. If you don’t want to work out, don’t want to compete or win — what are we doing it for?
“That competitiveness is still there. Once it’s gone, it’ll be obvious, and I’ll be happy to move on.
“But right now I love being around the group. It’s all I’ve known since I was 17. This is my 20th year as a pro. That’s pretty cool.
“And with what we did last year, having that same group back, a proper training camp this time, it’s exciting to have another crack at it.
“Speaking to Renee, the kids, it was an easy decision.”
Ingles returns for another season. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
ROCCO ZIKARSKY (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Speaking of Ingles and mentoring younger players, he has a rookie Australian teammate in Zikarsky to help mould.
Zikarsky isn’t expected to see much playing time in his rookie year since he was such a raw prospect in the first place, with Minnesota taking a high-upside swing on the 19-year-old given his tantalising physical traits.
The Timberwolves also drafted another rookie centre in the first round in Joan Beringer, while Rudy Gobert is obviously established as the clear-cut starter.
But both Beringer and Zikarsky are intriguing long-term options at the position for Minnesota and while the Australian still has a lot of developing to do before he is ready to contribute in the NBA, he was surprisingly productive in the Timberwolves’ first preseason game.
The Athletic’s Timberwolves writer Jon Krawczynski called Zikarsky “intriguing”.
“If there was a big surprise, it was the solid play from Zikarsky,” Krawczynski wrote.
“The second-round pick is on a two-way deal and considered a project big man. But “big” is the operative word for the 7-foot-3 Australian. His size was undeniable.
“Zikarsky finished with nine points and eight rebounds — five of them on the offensive end — in a little more than 13 minutes. He showed a nice, soft touch around the rim and at the free-throw line and moved well on defence, using his size to deter Nuggets players from driving at him.
“With Gobert, Randle, Reid and Beringer on the roster, there likely will not be much playing time for Zikarsky as a rookie. He will get good G League run in Iowa and be available should an injury or two befall the Wolves’ frontcourt. But there is a lot to like about the big man. He is no plodder. He has some discernible talent around the room. He is intriguing.”
Krawczynski isn’t the only one to have liked what he’s seen from Zikarsky, with Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards telling reporters at media he thinks both the former NBL Next Star and Beringer will “surprise everybody”.
“Those two guys are gonna be pretty damn good,” he said, recalling a moment Zikarsky blocked one of his shots during a drill earlier in the day.
“I’m like, ‘how?’ – this doesn’t even make sense,” Edwards added.
Denver Nuggets centre Jonas Valanciunas defends against Zikarsky. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)Source: AP
JOCK LANDALE (Memphis Grizzlies)
After a few years of establishing himself as a handy depth option but not much more, Landale is ready to make the most of what he called a “big opportunity” in Memphis.
While Zach Edey, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke are theoretically blocking his path to big minutes, all three have been recovering from injuries and so the Australian could see more playing time early in the season.
“It’s the opportunity you play for and I feel like I’ve been ready for it my whole NBA career,” Landale said at media day.
“I had it in Phoenix in the playoffs, starting against Denver. I know what I’m good at, I know what this team needs from me.
“I don’t have to do anything out of the ordinary. My job is to make everyone’s life easier. Set big screens for Ja (Morant), get him loose, play with effort and energy.
“That’s my box.
“Your guys’ motto is grit and grind, and that really fits my play style and the culture I’ve been raised around.
“Honestly (it) feels like a match made in heaven.”
Only furthering that point is the fact Landale is familiar with new coach Tuomas Iisalo from his time in Europe, while he also played against Clarke in college.
On Iisalo though, his experience in Europe means he should know how to use a FIBA-type big like Landale while the Australian — as he said himself — had the kind of underrated skillset to do the little things right and make life easier for his teammates.
Landale is particularly effective as a screener and in the pick-and-roll game, while he hustles on the boards and should at least provide solid play until Edey and Jackson Jr. are healthy.
“Screening is something I pride myself on, especially with someone like Ja who excels in ball screen situations,” Landale said.
“Playing out of the short roll is something I can do too.I ’m not out there breaking guys down off the dribble. It’s effort, every single night.”
Landale speaks with reporters. Justin Ford/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
JOSH GREEN (Charlotte Hornets)
Green hasn’t had quite the impact the Hornets would have hoped after acquiring him as part of a six-team trade last year that saw Klay Thompson shipped to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Sydney native was an inconsistent shooter and while his perimeter defence remained solid, it isn’t a calling card in the same way it is for Daniels or even someone like Matisse Thybulle, which means he needs to be making his shots more often.
That is especially true when you consider Green is entering the second year of a three-year, $41 million contract. He is set to earn $13.6 million this year alone.
The Hornets are in a position where they would probably prefer to see what they have in their younger guys, but the amount of money they are giving Green means he can’t just be riding the bench.
He is also still a handy role player when healthy but unfortunately for Green, he is currently sidelined after undergoing left shoulder surgery earlier in the year and doesn’t sound close to returning based on coach Charles Lee’s comments last week.
Lee said that Green has done “extremely well” in his rehab and that the team expects him to “contribute to winning at some point this season” but did not have a “definitive timeline” on when the Australian would be available.
Josh Green returns for another season in Charlotte. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
DUOP REATH (Portland Trail Blazers)
It is hard to see Reath getting too much playing time given how much the Trail Blazers have invested at the centre position in the last two drafts.
Donovan Clingan was already entering the season as the expected starter but now he has a clear back-up after Portland surprisingly took Yang Hansen in the first round of this year’s draft.
Provided Robert Williams III can also get back to full health, it will position Reath as the fourth option but he does at least provide something different as a floor spacer.
Reath had his $2.22 million contract fully guaranteed by the Trail Blazers in early August.
Reath returns to Portland. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
MATISSE THYBULLE (Portland Trail Blazers)
What excites Thybulle the most going into this season?
Well, “selfishly” the Australian replied the fact he actually has a chance to play.
“I missed so much time last year,” Thybulle added.
Thybulle was sidelined for the majority of the season after first undergoing a knee procedure in October before then suffering a grade three ankle sprain in the preseason.
The versatile wing returned to action in late March, just as the regular season was starting to wind down and with the Trail Blazers not in the playoff picture, it meant an “unexpected” challenge for Thybulle.
“One of the unexpected things I had to deal with this summer was trying to pace myself because I got healthy and strong as the season ended and that is when everybody else ramps down, takes care of their body and then gets right for the next season and I was getting into the full swing,” Thybulle said.
“So trying to navigate this offseason was different for me; just wanting to do more but understanding that what I’m preparing for isn’t an offseason it’s the regular season. So, just getting myself to where I am now, I had to slow down a bit, which wasn’t that easy.”
Thybulle, as always, will offer plus defence on the perimeter while if he can build on his improved 3-point shooting last season (43.8 per cent in an albeit limited sample size), he can carve out a strong role on the bench.
Matisse Thybulle battled injuries last season. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Being a defensive-minded player, Thybulle said he was excited about the team’s “massive” ceiling on that side of the floor after trading for Jrue Holiday.
We could put together some pretty ridiculous, as far as our size and defensive prowess, lineups,” Thybulle said.
The Australian also explained why he was excited for Portland’s new, more egalitarian offensive philosophy, which emphasises moving the ball and playing together in a bid to feature the overall squad’s speed, athleticism and length.
“For players who tend to get stuck in the corner, this offence is really great to get you involved (and) to make you feel like you’re involved,” he said.
“… I think it’s going to be exciting for guys like myself and Toumani, defensive players who tend to sometimes get lost in the corners to be able to make more of an impact.”