Fresh off signing a new $41 million deal, Josh Green showed exactly why the Mavericks were so keen to extend the Sydney native.
Meanwhile, Josh Giddey had a productive first game of the new season and there is still plenty of room left to grow for the 21-year-old.
Here is a full wrap of how every Australian fared and what their role could look like in the 2023-24 season.
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KP cooks New York on return! | 01:03
BEN SIMMONS (Brooklyn Nets)
It was a solid showing from Simmons in his first game for the new-look Nets, although it ended in heartbreak as the Cavaliers took a 115-114 win.
We wrapped that game in full but when it came to Simmons’ individual performance, there were plenty of positives and also some clear areas of improvement for the Australian.
Starting with what he did well, Simmons as always proved he is still a high-level playmaker with a few pinpoint passes to get open looks for his Nets teammates.
Simmons also, as he did in the preseason, helped push the pace in transition by either taking it up himself or finding teammates with outlet passes.
As for the areas of improvement, the 26-year-old lacked the physicality and assertiveness that he played with on offence in the preseason.
Leaning into that side of his game more will only help Simmons, who had 10 rebounds and a game-high nine assists but also managed just four points.
“It was OK,” Simmons said when asked to assess his own performance.
“Knocked the dust off. It was OK. I’ve got much more to give this team.”
Interestingly, Simmons played a minimal role for Brooklyn in the fourth quarter and the Australian didn’t seem to have much of an idea why that was the case when asked about it by reporters post-game.
“You’d have to ask coach. I don’t know,” Simmons said.
So, reporters did just that and coach Jacque Vaughn answered — although he said managing minutes would not be something isolated to only Simmons.
“I think you’ll see this year, our group, we’re going divide these minutes up throughout the course of the year,” he said.
“My intent was not to try to blow anyone out in the beginning of the game. I didn’t even intend to play Mikal 35 minutes. But you’ll see our minutes kind of range across the board because we do have depth and versatility. So this won’t be the last time that happens.”
Simmons passes out of open shot AGAIN? | 00:41
JOSH GIDDEY (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Some things haven’t changed when it comes to the Oklahoma City rising star.
Like Giddey using his elite vision to find teammates for 3-pointers. Take the opening possession of the Thunder’s blowout win over the Bulls.
Right away Giddey passed to Jalen Williams and within a matter of seconds it was a 3-0 buffer for the Thunder.
There are some things that will change for the 21-year-old though, starting with the confidence in his shooting.
Giddey had an early air ball but importantly did not let it get to him, knocking down a 3-pointer and then another later in the game on his way to 16 points.
“The (front office) does a good job of adding shooters to the group,” teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said post-game.
“And the guys that were here before, like Josh (Giddey), Lu (Dort), (Jalen Williams), a lot of those guys aren’t labeled shooters, but they work hard and they work on those little things to be a better basketball player, and it ultimately helps me out there.”
While there is so much focus on Giddey’s 3-point shooting, just as important will be how the young guard fares with his finishing inside the paint.
It is something Giddey said he had worked on in the summer, not having to be so reliant on floaters and instead leaning into using his 6-foot-8 frame to his advantage.
Giddey scored 10 of his 16 points inside the paint, although he wasn’t able to draw any fouls — something he also said was a focus heading into his third season in the league.
DYSON DANIELS (New Orleans Pelicans)
Daniels made an immediate impact with a spin move on Luke Kennard and silky finish for the bucket.
The young Australian guard is still a work in progress on the offensive side of the ball, something which was best illustrated by one play in the second quarter when Daniels cut towards the rim and onto a CJ McCollum pass.
The 20-year-old missed his first two attempts at the layup but stuck with it, fighting for the rebound once more before eventually getting the finish.
One aspect of Daniels’ game that is not a work in progress though is his defence, with Daniels finishing the 111-104 win over the Grizzlies with two steals and a block.
Add in six points and five rebounds and it was a productive showing off the bench.
“They were great and all of those guys have been in all summer besides Dyson,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said when asked about Daniels, Kira Lewis Jr. and rookie Jordan Hawkins. “Dyson was playing for the Australian national team. But those guys have been in all summer, they’ve been working and we’re all about. If you can play, youth, it didn’t matter. If guys put the work in we want to reward them with opportunities.”
JOSH GREEN (Dallas Mavericks)
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd made a few curious calls for the team’s season opener against the Spurs, starting Maxi Kleber ahead of Dereck Lively II and giving Derrick Jones Jr. the nod instead of Green.
There was always a level of uncertainty surrounding Dallas’ starting unit entering the season, with Grant Williams the only player locked in to suit up alongside Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
Green though could very well work his way into a starting role as the season progresses and the Mavericks have 41 million reasons to want to see more of the Australian anyway.
In case you missed it, Dallas extended the Sydney native on a three-year, $41 million extension earlier in the week.
Green made an impact on both ends for Dallas against San Antonio, faking a 3-point attempt to get past No.1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama before setting up for a mid-range shot that he knocked down.
The versatile wing then flashed his playmaking prowess as he found a cutting Kyrie Irving for the finish before an alert Green scooped up a loose inbounds pass from the Spurs later in the game to give the Mavs an extra possession.
Even when the Tim Hardaway Jr. shot from deep missed Green threw himself at the offensive rebound.
He may have come up short but the Australian continues to play with the kind of effort and high energy that makes him an asset regardless of if he is coming off the bench or not.
Green had 11 points, one steal, two rebounds and an assist in the win over the Spurs while making both of his 3-point attempts.
DANTE EXUM (Dallas Mavericks)
Fellow Australian Dante Exum, meanwhile, had a limited role off the bench for the Mavericks as he scored three points to go with one board in eight minutes.
Still, a player with Exum’s athleticism, length and versatility will be valuable to Dallas even if he continues to see minimal playing time.
There was one hilariously unfortunate moment when Exum accidentally left Irving hanging as his new teammate went for a high five.
JOCK LANDALE (Houston Rockets)
Landale, who is locked in as the back-up big man for Houston behind Alperen Sengun, played a limited role as expected in Houston’s heavy 116-86 loss to Orlando.
Landale only got nine minutes in Thursday’s game, recording two assists while making one of two 3-point attempts.
The 28-year-old, who missed Australia’s World Cup campaign with an ankle injury, has already suffered an early setback after suffering a concussion in the game against the Magic.
It means Landale will not suit up for Houston’s next fixture against San Antonio, with the Boomers forward currently in the league’s concussion protocol.
Landale joined the Rockets in free agency on a four-year, $32 million contract, although he will need to impress to see the entirety of his contract as just one year guaranteed.
JOE INGLES (Orlando Magic)
It is going to be interesting to see how Ingles fits in this young Magic team but there is something to be said about having a trustworthy, veteran figure leading this second unit.
Ingles went scoreless in the 116-86 win over Houston but had a crucial five assists off the bench, impressing as he helped facilitate the offence and ease the pressure on Cole Anthony to produce on that front.
The veteran even came up with a strong defensive play to deny Jalen Green before making an immediate impact in transition on offence as he found Jonathan Isaac for the finish.
While not speaking about Ingles specifically, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley commented on the production of the second unit and selflessness of the team as a whole post-game.
“Obviously Franz got early… and then the second side of it was our second unit was really good,” he said.
“They came in and they moved the ball, they shared the ball. Cole got going. But I think it was just such selfless play. We had 19 assists but we had some great looks. I think we have to continue to hang our hat on the ability to find those shots and be willing to take those shots.”
And Ingles has been just that his whole career — selfless, willing to play whatever role the team needs him to.
For a Magic team that is young and still finding its identity, having a guy like that is underrated in just how important it can be.
Obviously the 3-point shooting will hopefully come too but Ingles is the kind of player who doesn’t overthink things, making the right passes and the smart play to help his teammates.
That, along with his energy and leadership on the court and in the locker room, should make him a valuable piece at Orlando moving forward.
MATISSE THYBULLE (Portland Trail Blazers)
Things definitely didn’t start well for Thybulle, who turned the ball over on the opening possession of the 123-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
It ended up being a pretty modest outing with eight points, one steal, one assist, one rebound and two turnovers for Thybulle, who shot 2-for-6 from downtown.
Shooting is ultimately going to be the determining factor for whether Thybulle holds his starting spot, with Shaedon Sharpe lurking on the bench.
Portland is in the process of rebuilding and ultimately would probably be better served at some point seeing what they have with Sharpe starting anyway.
Not that it mattered in the end on Friday though, with Sharpe (28 minutes) seeing more time on the court than Thybulle (20).
PATTY MILLS (Atlanta Hawks)
Mills, who was traded a few times in the summer before landing at Atlanta, was hoping a fresh start would be for the best after seeing little playing time in his last season at Brooklyn.
It is obviously only early but the signs weren’t great in the Hawks’ season opener as Mills failed to record a single minute on the court, instead a DNP-Coach’s Decision.