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With 15 players signed to an NBA team for the 2024-25 season, we’ve never seen so many Australians in the NBA. The exciting news for those up-and-comers is that there have never been more pathways to the league, and each of these players has found their way through several different avenues, including College to High School, G League, and the NBL, which has made a name for itself as a preferred pathway to the NBA. Names such as LaMelo Ball, Alex Sarr, and Josh Giddey have taken the NBL route over the traditional college route, and it’s paid off, literally. Which player on our list will have the biggest impact this season? Let’s find out.
Best Australians Playing in the NBA at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following players:
- Best overall: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
- For a break-out year: Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
- For a veteran player: Joe Ingles
Now you’ve read our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
RELATED: Most Points Scored in NBA Game by Player: Complete List.
1. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
Current team: Dallas Mavericks (#11 / Point guard, Shooting guard)
Career average: 23.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists
Career earnings: $311,083,674
It pains us to stick Kyrie Irving at the top of the best Australian basketball players list as he’s never represented our country on any level. However, as per the title of this article, Kyrie Irving is Australian, so he’s on the list. His career averages of 23.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists make him the stat-sheet leader on this list, but it’s the career accolades that cement the Melbourne-born point guard as the best. He’s an NBA Champion (2016), eight-time NBA All-Star, Olympic Gold-medal winner (2016), and a flat-earther, which is all we’re going to say about Kyrie because we don’t want to end up in a conspiracy theory.
- Born: 23 March 1992, Melbourne, Victoria
- Height: 1.88 m
- Education: Duke (2010–2011)
- Drafted: 1st round, 1st overall pick (2011)
- Seasons in the NBA: 14
2. Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
Current team: Chicago Bulls (#3 / Point guard, Shooting guard)
Career average: 13.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists
Career earnings: $27,214,807
Drafted by the OKC Thunder, Josh Giddey is now a project for the Chicago Bulls who traded for him before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. It’s still a work in progress for the 6’8 floor general who fell out of the closing rotation early in the season and has struggled to find playing time with Lonzo Ball back in the line-up. This doesn’t bode well for Giddey who is looking for a long-term contract at the end of this season to the tune of $20-30 Million per year, but there’s still time for him to get his plus-minus in order.
- Born: 10 October 2002, Melbourne, Victoria
- Height: 2.03 m
- Education: St Kevin’s College (Melbourne), Lake Ginninderra (Canberra)
- Drafted: 1st round, 6th overall pick (2021)
- Seasons in the NBA: 4
3. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
Current team: Atlanta Hawks (#5 / Point guard, Shooting guard)
Career average: 6.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Career earnings: $17,452,240
Dyson Daniels has emerged as one of the best defenders in the NBA this season, earning him the nickname ‘The Great Barrier Thief’. His career averages of 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists don’t tell the full story because it’s all about the intangibles for Daniels who has emerged as one of the Atlanta Hawks’ most promising young stars this season. He’s averaging 33.7 minutes per game (up from 22.3 minutes) and he’s brought his points average up to 13.5 to go along with a league-leading 3.0 steals through the first 20 games of the NBA season.
- Born: 17 March 2003, Bendigo, Victoria
- Height: 2.01 m
- Education: Bendigo South East College; (Bendigo, Australia)
- Drafted: 1st round, 8th overall pick (2022)
- Seasons in the NBA: 3
4. Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets
Current team: Brooklyn Nets (#10 / Point guard, Small forward)
Career average: 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists
Career earnings: $203,356,689
Ben Simmons was touted as the next Lebron James but he has failed to live up to expectations. Today, he’s an injury-prone player who hasn’t represented Australia on the biggest stage, struggles to shoot the ball beyond 15 feet, and continues to disappoint the fanbase of every team he joins. He was a generational talent with Magic’s vision and Lebron’s athleticism, and despite this, he’s failed to achieve a meaningful accolade in years. He was NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and a three-time NBA All-Star, but you could probably add NBA high-five champion to that list as well. We’ll never know how great Ben Simmons could have been if injuries had not hampered his progression.
- Born: 20 July 1996, Melbourne, Victoria
- Height: 2.08 m
- Education: LSU (2015–2016)
- Drafted: 1st round, 1st overall pick (2016)
- Seasons in the NBA: 9
5. Josh Green, Charlotte Hornets
Current team: Charlotte Hornets (#10 / Small forward, Shooting guard)
Career average: 6.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Career earnings: $26,292,340
Josh Green spent four years with the Dallas Mavericks where the Luka Doncic-led team went deep into the NBA Playoffs on numerous occasions. Now, Green has joined the Charlotte Hornets and has found real minutes as a two-guard alongside LaMelo Ball in his breakout season. He’s playing the same 3&D role as he was in Dallas but has raised his 3-point percentage to a whopping 49.2% through 18 games this season. If he can keep his percentage above his career average of 38.8% he’ll find a large chunk of change at the other end of the three-year, $41 million ($AUD 64 million) contract he signed with the Mavericks in October 2023.
- Born: 16 November 2000, Sydney, New South Wales
- Height: 1.96 m
- Education: Arizona (2019–2020)
- Drafted: 1st round, 18th overall pick (2020)
- Seasons in the NBA: 5
6. Danté Exum, Dallas Mavericks
Current team: Australia men’s national basketball team (#11 / Guard)
Career average: 6.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Career earnings: $49,125,425
Danté Exum is one of the NBA’s biggest “what ifs” with a long list of injuries having set back the 6’5 guard for most of his career. Still, his 2023-24 season with the Dallas Mavericks was one of his best yet. He returned from two years overseas to average 7.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, which were all very close to his career averages. His 2024-25 campaign was set to be a follow-up to this great season, but the Aussie NBA player suffered a wrist injury during training camp, which required surgery.
- Born: 13 July 1995, Melbourne, Victoria
- Height: 1.96 m
- Education: Australian Institute of Sport
- Drafted: 1st round, 5th overall pick (2014)
- Seasons in the NBA: 8
7. Patty Mills, Utah Jazz
Current team: Utah Jazz (#8 / Point guard, Shooting guard)
Career average: 8.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Career earnings: $85,559,433
Patty Mills is one of Australia’s most accomplished NBA players as both an NBA Champion and Olympic medalist. He will go down in Australian sports folklore as “FIBA Patty” for his performance that led the Australian Boomers to their first-ever Olympic medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and while he’s in the twilight era of his 16-year NBA career, his reputation proceeds him. His accolades include an NBA championship with the Spurs (2014), and an NBA Sportsmanship Award (2022), and he even has his No. 13 jersey retired by Saint Mary’s Gaels.
- Born: 11 August 1988, Canberra, ACT
- Height: 1.88 m
- Education: Saint Mary’s (2007–2009)
- Drafted: 2nd round, 55th overall pick (2009)
- Seasons in the NBA: 15
8. Jock Landale, Houston Rockets
Current team: Houston Rockets (#2 / Center)
Career average: 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Career earnings: $18,488,776
Jock Landale made an immediate impact in the NBA when he landed on a rebuilding San Antonio Spurs roster in 2021-22 and averaged 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 54 games. He joined the Phoenix Suns a season later and continued the high output with career highs in points and rebounds. Since joining the Houston Rockets, however, Landale has struggled to find minutes, averaging 13.6 MPG a season ago and then 11.1 MPG so far this season. As such, his numbers have taken a hit and he’s averaging 3.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. This season will give Landale another chance to prove his skills on the biggest stage, but regardless of his play, he’s inked a 4 year $32,000,000 contract with the Houston Rockets so he’ll be smiling regardless.
- Born: 25 October 1995, Melbourne, Victoria
- Height: 2.11 m
- Education: Saint Mary’s (2014–2018)
- Drafted: Undrafted
- Seasons in the NBA: 4
9. Joe Ingles, Minnesota Timberwolves
Current team: Minnesota Timberwolves (#7 / Power forward, Small forward)
Career average: 8.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists
Career earnings: $87,879,314
Like his Boomers teammate Patty Mills, Joe Ingles is in the twilight stages of his career. Still, he’s managed to find minutes on an NBA roster as a mentor to young players. The Minnesota Timberwolves have championship hopes, and when Smokin’ Joe returns from injury he will look to provide meaningful minutes as a third-string forward with high IQ plays and a reliable 3pt jumpshot. Oklahoma City Thunder fans will never forget what he did to NBA superstar Paul George in the NBA Playoffs, and Boomers fans will never forget the role he played on the Bronze medal winning team alongside Mills.
- Born: 2 October 1987, Happy Valley, South Australia
- Height: 2.06 m
- Education: Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
- Drafted: Undrafted
- Seasons in the NBA: 11
10. Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trailblazers
Current team: Portland Trail Blazers (#4 / Small forward, Shooting guard)
Career average: 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Career earnings: $23,013,126
Matisse Thybulle is contracted to the Portland Trailblazers for the 2024-25 NBA season but he’s yet to see an NBA court due to injury. Still, he’s one of the best Australian basketballers in the NBA with career averages of 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.5 steals. He’s known for his lockdown defense and he was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2020-21 and 2021-22 when he played for the Philadelphia 76ers. Today, he’s a solid backup guard/ forward who can be inserted into line-ups sparingly and manages to see around 20 minutes of playing time per game.
- Born: 4 March 1997 (age 27 years), Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
- Height: 1.96 m
- Education: University of Washington
- Drafted: 1st round, 20th overall pick (2019)
- Seasons in the NBA: 5
11. Duop Reath, Portland Trailblazers
Current team: Houston Rockets (#2 / Center)
Career average: 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists
Career earnings: $4,000,000
With a breakout 2023-24 season that saw him average 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists behind him, Duop Reath has struggled to find a place in the current Portland Trailblazers rotation. He’s appeared in just 11 games through 20 this season and he’s struggled to get more than 5 minutes on the court with averages of just 1.2 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.2 assists. You could point the finger at many of the advanced stats, but looking at the On Court/ Off Court stats the Portland Trailblazers have an Offensive Rating of -18.6 with him on the court vs. -6.8 off. That’s not a promising sign for the sharp-shooting stretch five.
- Born: 26 June 1996, Waat, South Sudan
- Height: 2.06 m
- Education: Lee College (2014–2016), LSU (2016–2018)
- Drafted: Undrafted
- Seasons in the NBA: 2
12. Johnny Furphy, Indiana Pacers
Current team: Indiana Pacers (#12 / Small forward)
Career average: 2.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists
Career earnings: $6,102,490 (2024-27)
Johnny Furphy is one of the newest faces in Australian basketball and his NBA journey has only just begun with the Indiana Pacers. He’s appeared in most of the team’s games this season and he’s averaged 2.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in limited minutes (9.0 minutes per game). His 7-point performance against the Orlando Magic on the 13th of November 2024 is his career-high, but he’s also managed a 6-point and 5-point effort. With a 4-year NBA contract signed, Furphy is a project for the Indiana Pacers, so expect to see more of him as the season goes on.
- Born: 7 December 2004, Melbourne, Victoria
- Height: 2.06 m
- Education: University of Kansas (2023–2024), Maribyrnong College
- Drafted: 2nd round, 35th overall pick (2024)
- Seasons in the NBA: 1
13. Luke Travers, Cleveland Cavaliers
Current team: Cleveland Cavaliers (#33 / Shooting guard)
Career average: 2.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Career earnings: $578,577
Luke Travers is on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which splits his time between the NBA court and the G League. Still, he’s managed to carve out some playing time this season, including a 30-minute night against the New Orleans Pelicans where he managed to score 4 points and dish out 3 assists. One of the youngest players on our list, Travers still has plenty of time to prove himself in the NBA, and he’s appeared in five of the Cavaliers games through 20 games.
- Born: 3 September 2001, Perth
- Height: 2 m
- Education: Willeton Senior High School
- Drafted: 2nd round, 56th overall pick (2022)
- Seasons in the NBA: 1
14. Jack McVeigh, Houston Rockets
Current team: Houston Rockets, Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League
Career average: 1.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.2 assists
Career earnings: $578,577
Like Alex Ducas and Luke Travers, sharp-shooter Jack McVeigh is on a two-way NBA contract with the Houston Rockets. As such, you shouldn’t expect to see much of him on an NBA court this season, but he will be recalled for specific games where his quick-firing talents could be required. Through the first 20 games of the NBA season, he has appeared in just six games but has managed to notch two three-pointers.
- Born: 27 June 1996 (age 28 years), Murwillumbah, New South Wales
- Height: 2.03 m
- Education: Lake Ginninderra (Canberra)
- Drafted: Undrafted
- Seasons in the NBA: 1
15. Alex Ducas, Oklahoma City Thunder
Current team: Oklahoma City Thunder (#88 / Small forward)
Career average: 0.0 points, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assists
Career earnings: $578,577 (2024-25)
One of the newest Australian basketball talents to make an NBA roster, Alex Ducas’ story is just getting started with an Oklahoma City Thunder team that’s a favourite to win an NBA Championship this season. He’s on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League, which means his time is split between the NBA and NBA G League. So far this season he’s appeared in four NBA games but hasn’t logged a statistic.
- Born: 11 December 2000, Geraldton, Western Australia
- Height: 2.01 m
- Education: Saint Mary’s College of California
- Drafted: Undrafted (2024)
- Seasons in the NBA: 1
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