In the 90s, Luc Longley was essentially the lone Australian representative in the NBA. Sure, Andrew Gaze had short stints with the Bullets and Spurs and a handful of others, but none would make a roster for longer than a season or two.
In 2024, it’s a different story. Australians looking to support their compatriots in the NBA now have plenty of choices, plus hope for the future, with talents with real All-NBA potential breaking through.
Dyson Daniels for Most Improved Player?
The biggest Australian player in the NBA this season just has to be Dyson Daniels. He’s been putting up fantastic performances for the Hawks this season and is one of the NBA’s breakout players.
Before the season started, there were some big question marks surrounding Daniels. He was traded from the team that originally drafted him, and there was no prominent spot for him to slot into on the Hawks roster.
But he’s been fantastic this season on both ends of the floor. He’s averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3.1 steals per game. He has a legitimate argument for winning Defensive Player of the Year, but where he has a chance is Most Improved Player.
The current odds for the MIP award have Franz Wagner leading the charge, and right now, it’s hard to argue with that. He’s playing at an All-Star level and is unquestionably the Magic’s best player.
Yet there’s a big question mark on whether he can keep that production level through the rest of the season. Paolo Banchero, the team’s marquee player, is currently out with an injury, creating a massive vacuum that Wagner has been able to step into. Once Banchero is back, Wagner will become the No. 2 option.
Wagner probably still stands the best chance of winning MIP; he’s just been that good this season, but Daniels is mounting a legitimate challenge. And for a player who the Pelicans pretty much discarded, it’s a fantastic achievement.
Ben Simmons: Showing (Small) Signs of Life
That sounds like a potential Hall of Fame career, right? Then, his playoff failure against the Hawks in Game 7, a game which will live in infamy, seemingly sent his career in a downward spiral.
Suddenly, he seemed completely done. He was on the trajectory to becoming the best Australian in the NBA and then to being a near-scrub with the Brooklyn Nets. Yet this season, he is showing some signs of still being a semblance of what he once was.
He’s (re-)breaking through, posting a decent performance against the Suns. He booked 14 points (7 for 8 from the field), pulled nine boards, and dished out 8 assists.
Just a few years ago, that would have been a standard stat line for Simmons. He’ll likely never be the player he once was, but with a max deal running out after this season, performances like that may give him the chance to sign a new multi-year contract.
Josh Giddey: Unique Talent
Our final entry is a player that is a bit of an enigma. He’s been in the league for a few years, but he’s never quite convinced he’s an elite performer. He’s the highest pick out of his draft class not to have an extension, but his recent performances suggest his potential is still very much there.
After being drafted with the 6th overall pick in 2021, the start of Josh Giddey’s looked very promising. He made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, showing flashes of becoming a key piece in an OKC team challenging for the title.
Three years later, however, he was traded to the Bulls for Alex Caruso. He demanded the trade after being benched, struggling in the playoffs, and being left out of closing lineups.
With the Chicago Bulls, he’s showing that he’s still a unique talent with a lot of upside. His rebounding is elite, and his playmaking skills as an oversized guard cause matchup issues.
He’s also the youngest player in history to record a triple-double and has the most triple-doubles as a teen in NBA history (tied with Luka Doncic, arguably the best player in the NBA). His teammate Cody White says he’s always two steps ahead of the game and has fantastic court vision.
Yet despite these accolades, it’s challenging to find a good fit for Giddey. His shot is weak, and he’s not a good defender. He must improve this part of his game if he wants to get a max deal with a contender.
Having an Australian in the NBA isn’t news. But having an All-NBA player year-in-year-out, someone who is a lock for the Hall of Fame, we’re still waiting for that. This trio of players has a legitimate chance to make that happen.
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