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.<\/p>\n
Plus, second-year guard Johnny Furphy could be Australia\u2019s biggest breakout player to watch if preseason talk is anything to go by. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
DYSON DANIELS (Atlanta Hawks)<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/content.foxsports.com.au\/fs\/electrode\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
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\u2019s Most Improved Player.<\/p>\n
He has an added incentive to do so too, with the 22-year-old potentially heading into next summer a restricted free agent. <\/p>\n
That is, if the Hawks can\u2019t come to an agreement with Daniels on an extension before the October 20 deadline for players entering the final season of their rookie contracts.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
If Atlanta opts against signing Daniels to an extension before the deadline he could enter restricted free agency like Giddey, and while there wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
That could change in the 2026 offseason and NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote that he believes Daniels could \u201cquite 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\u201d.<\/p>\n
As for where the Hawks and Daniels stand in contract negotiations, it is only early but Fischer reported he is hearing there is \u201csome distance\u201d between the two parties at the moment. <\/p>\n
From Atlanta\u2019s 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\u2019t be a more consistent shooter.<\/p>\n
But that is all part of Daniels\u2019 all-round development and at just 22 years old, the \u2018Great Barrier Thief\u2019 still has plenty of time to add new wrinkles to his game.<\/p>\n
Dyson Daniels had a big first year in Atlanta. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Daniels told reporters at media day that he had more time this offseason to \u201cmake improvements in a lot of areas\u201d of his game given his previous two summers were spent playing at the World Cup and then the Olympics. <\/p>\n
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 \u201calways\u201d been his \u201cbackbone\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting to spots, different pickups, footwork into shots \u2014 just developing the offensive bag,\u201d Daniels said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re deep this year \u2014 playing off guys like Trae (Young), with KP (Kristaps Porzingis) coming in, and Nickeil (Alexander-Walker) \u2014 so I\u2019m fitting my role and playing it to the best of my ability.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201crocked a little bit\u201d according to father Ricky<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cCoach Q was huge. He gave me confidence, gave me a starting role, and told me to be myself,\u201d Daniels said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s never told me not to shoot or not to make a play. It was also my mindset \u2014 I wasn\u2019t happy with my first two years; I wasn\u2019t aggressive, I felt I took a step back.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to change my career trajectory: play free, fear no one. I did that and want to build on it every year.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniels made big defensive plays, including a clutch steal on De\u2019Aaron Fox. (Photo by Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI know I\u2019ve got so much more left in me to show in this league and so much more improvement,\u201d said Daniels. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cBasketball has some selling to it \u2014 if you get hit on a screen, you have to sell it or you won\u2019t get the call,\u201d Daniels said. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about knowing when to do that and when to stay disciplined, fight through, and get back in front.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to the game slowing down more this year so I can execute those reads.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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 \u2014 especially when Young is on the bench.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of my strengths is pace,\u201d Daniels said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have athletes who can run \u2014 Jalen (Johnson), Naji (Marshall), our wings.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Trae is off, we can use size and length and play fast. Going into year four, I\u2019m more comfortable at that spot and know what to expect. It\u2019s about building trust so the staff knows someone will be disciplined and run the team.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Can Daniels go to another level this season? (Photo by Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n JOSH GIDDEY (Chicago Bulls)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Giddey told reporters at media day there were \u201cnever any bad feelings\u201d between himself and the Bulls, adding that Chicago was \u201cwhere I wanted to be\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI never had any worries I wasn\u2019t going to be here,\u201d Giddey added.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was where I wanted to be. They embraced me from day one when I first got here \u2014 teammates, front office and the fans \u2014 and it felt like home really quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.<\/p>\n \u201cRight from the jump, I made sure my agent knew this is where I wanted to be. I want to be here long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n It is a big year for Giddey. (AP Photo\/Nam Y. Huh)Source: AP<\/p>\n If this wasn\u2019t already Giddey\u2019s 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\u2019t be able to afford him.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Giddey said when he first arrived in Chicago via trade he was \u201cprobably trying to fit in a little bit too much\u201d. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery leader is different. Some guys are loud vocal guys. Some guys lead by example. I think I\u2019m just naturally more of a reserved guy,\u201d Giddey said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a big yell or scream type of leader, but I think taking a step in that role, using my voice more.<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s probably the big area for me that I want to continue to grow in.\u201d<\/p>\n There are high expectations of Giddey this season. (AP Photo\/Nam Y. Huh)Source: AP<\/p>\n LACHLAN OLBRICH (Chicago Bulls)<\/p>\n As for Giddey\u2019s new Australian teammate, it seems like Olbrich will spend most of his time in his rookie year playing for the Windy City Bulls, Chicago\u2019s G-League affiliate, after signing a two-way deal.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Olbrich speaks during media availability after practice. (Audrey Richardson\/Chicago Tribune\/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n TYRESE PROCTOR (Cleveland Cavaliers)<\/p>\n There won\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201clooks like he belongs\u201d in the NBA.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of times with rookies, you know, you\u2019re like, \u2018Do they really belong?\u2019 Right now, it feels like he belongs,\u201d Atkinson added. <\/p>\n \u201cThe question with Tyrese right now is, is he gonna be able to handle the physicality? It\u2019s not his skill level \u2014 that\u2019s high enough. His compete level\u2019s high enough.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n It seems like that is something the Cavaliers are aware of too, with Atkinson telling reporters Proctor will use his rookie year to \u201cbuild his body\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s gonna push us to make decisions,\u201d the Cleveland coach added. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Proctor admitted the draft experience was a \u201crollercoaster\u201d 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d Proctor said.<\/p>\n Proctor will look to earn rotation minutes. Jason Miller\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n LUKE TRAVERS (Cleveland Cavaliers)<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n The former Melbourne United guard played in 21 games for the Charge, averaging 17 points, 9.8 rebounds and seven assists per game. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Travers told reporters at media day that he has \u201cinternal goals\u201d for this season that he will keep to himself, but that broadly he wants to prove that he \u201cfits at this level\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt starts with preseason \u2014 it\u2019s going to be huge for me to prove I belong and can thrive at this level,\u201d Travers said.<\/p>\n \u201cVersatility, especially on defence.<\/p>\n \u201cI can guard one through four, sometimes even one through five.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my biggest strength, and with all the switching in today\u2019s NBA, being able to defend guards and also switch onto bigs is huge.\u201d<\/p>\n Travers answers questions from the media. Nick Cammett\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n JOHNNY FURPHY (Indiana Pacers)<\/p>\n If there is one Australian on the verge of a breakout season, it is Furphy. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Furphy will likely be battling third-year wings Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard for minutes in Indiana\u2019s wing rotation.<\/p>\n Based on the positive buzz coming out of Pacers training camp from both coach Rick Carlisle and Furphy\u2019s teammates, the Australian is well positioned to embrace the added responsibility.<\/p>\n In fact, Haliburton himself singled out Furphy as one player to watch this season.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of different guys have gotten better in so many different areas,\u201d Haliburton said. <\/p>\n \u201cI think if I were to single out a guy, I would say Johnny Furphy has looked really good.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought he looked really good in the Summer League, and then he\u2019s just been a gym rat. Since then, he went to Australia right after Summer League, and he\u2019s been back for a while. He was one of the first guys back with me.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just who Furphy is. He lives in the weight room. He lives in the gym, so it\u2019s great to see him doing what he\u2019s doing and growing into his own as an NBA player. I look forward to seeing what year two looks like for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Furphy has impressed his teammates. (Photo by Matthew Stockman\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Haliburton wasn\u2019t the only one sing Furphy\u2019s praise, with veteran guard T.J. McConnell also noticing the leap the Australian has taken ahead of his second season.<\/p>\n \u201cJust the confidence that he\u2019s playing with on both ends of the floor, he just looks more comfortable,\u201d McConnell said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe game\u2019s slowing down… he\u2019s been in the gym and putting in the work and it\u2019s showing.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if Haliburton or McConnell wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Former Slam Dunk Contest champion Obi Toppin said he \u201calmost flipped over the couch\u201d in reaction to the dunk on Essengue, while McConnell called Furphy\u2019s effort \u201cpretty spectacular\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cFurph\u2019s got some bounce. It was good to see him attack the rim like that and especially finish it that way,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Coach Carlisle, meanwhile, called the Australian a \u201cfearless athlete\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe attacks. He attacks everything, he\u2019s unafraid, he\u2019s tough,\u201d Carlisle said.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery day he gets better.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m feeling more comfortable in my body being able to absorb contact,\u201d Furphy said. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice knowing what to expect going into my second year. I know where my biggest areas for improvement are. I\u2019m a long way from where I need to be, but I\u2019m heading in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Carlisle, meanwhile, said Furphy\u2019s 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\u2019s identity as a team that wants to push the pace on offence. <\/p>\n \u201cI love Furphy. The guy plays balls out, fast, hard. He\u2019s one of our best cutters, one of our best rebounders, crashers,\u201d the Pacers coach said. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s grown. He\u2019s gotten stronger. He\u2019s just an aggressive guy. This year we\u2019re going to need that kind of defiant attitude with all of our guys and how they compete. <\/p>\n \u201cHe and (Ben) Shepherd are just run through a wall guys. They just go hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Furphy could have a breakout second season. (Photo by Dylan Buell\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n DANTE EXUM (Dallas Mavericks)<\/p>\n Exum could play a prominent role early in the season for Dallas with Kyrie Irving confirming earlier in the week that there is \u201cno timetable\u201d for his return from a torn ACL.<\/p>\n The Mavericks signed D\u2019Angelo 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Exum returns to Dallas. (Photo by Stacy Revere\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n ALEX TOOHEY (Golden State Warriors)<\/p>\n Like the other rookies taken in this year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Toohey said he was having issues with tendinitis in his knee during Summer League but is \u201cdefinitely getting on top of it\u201d and expects to be healthy for the start of the season.<\/p>\n While Toohey won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Speaking of Butler, Toohey told reporters at media day he went to the Warriors superstar\u2019s house in San Diego during the offseason and learned a very important \u2014 and hilarious \u2014 lesson.<\/p>\n \u201cI learned that you can do quite a few things with money,\u201d Toohey laughed.<\/p>\n Toohey dribbles against Miami Heat guard Kira Lewis Jr. (Photo by Santiago Mejia\/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n TARAN ARMSTRONG (Golden State Warriors)<\/p>\n 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\u2019s KK Partizan.<\/p>\n Taran Armstrong getting a pre-season run with the Warriors. Ethan Miller\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n JOE INGLES (Minnesota Timberwolves)<\/p>\n If you want an idea of the role \u2014 both literally and metaphorically \u2014 that Ingles is going to play this year with the Timberwolves, just watch Minnesota\u2019s first preseason game against Denver. <\/p>\n Ingles, at 38 years old, put up the lob for 18-year-old Joan Beringer.<\/p>\n Once again, the veteran Ingles will be making plays for and imparting wisdom on the younger players in the squad. <\/p>\n For the most part, Ingles isn\u2019t expected to see many minutes after averaging just six minutes in his 19 games played with the Timberwolves last season.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWe asked the kids this year, and Milla wanted me to play because she wants to wear her new jeans to a game,\u201d Ingles laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was her reason.\u201d<\/p>\n