Aussies in the NBA 2026/27

The NBA is back! Season 2026/27 has officially tipped off and basketball fans and punters Down Under are no doubt already lapping up the action.

The return of the NBA also means the return of some of Australia’s brightest stars to basketball's biggest stage. 

Names like Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels and Matisse Thybulle may be already well known to Aussie ball enthusiasts, but there’s plenty of other names representing the Green and Gold stateside. 

Keen to find out who they are? Well, it’s time to Giddey up and dive right in. These are all the Australians playing in the NBA this season.

Aussies in the NBA 2026/27

Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls) 

Australian basketball’s golden boy Josh Giddey put together a career-best 2025/26 season in Chicago last season. He was averaging 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists before a hamstring strain and subsequent ankle surgery slowed his finish to the year. 

He enters his third season with the Bulls under new head coach Tiago Splitter, tasked with running the offence as lead point guard alongside Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis. 

Giddey's playmaking has become the engine of Chicago's rebuild, and this season will test whether he can stay healthy enough to build on last year's breakout numbers.

Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks) 

The Great Barrier Thief Dyson Daniels backed up his breakout 2024/25 campaign with another strong two-way season last year.

He posted an average of 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists while earning his second straight All-Defensive Team nod.

Daniels' $100 million extension officially kicks in this season, cementing his status as Atlanta's primary ball-handler and one of the league's elite perimeter defenders. 

The Hawks will lean heavily on his defensive versatility as they push for playoff contention.

Jock Landale (Atlanta Hawks) 

Jock Landale joined Daniels in Atlanta after being traded during the 2025/26 deadline, finishing the season with 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds across 68 games and a 26-point debut for his new side. 

A high ankle sprain cut his season short, but he's back on a one-year, $14 million deal as backup to Onyeka Okongwu. 

Landale's floor-spacing ability off the bench gives the Hawks valuable frontcourt depth, and his strong debut suggests he could again become a trade deadline asset if Atlanta's season doesn't go to plan.

Tyrese Proctor (Cleveland Cavaliers)

With Cleveland trading away Ty Jerome and Dean Wade's backcourt depth shuffled by the Schroder and Strus moves, Tyrese Proctor has a genuine opportunity to carve out minutes behind Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell this season.

His efficient shooting as a rookie marks him as a strong candidate for a second-year breakout if the Cavaliers trust him with a bigger role.

Johnny Furphy (Indiana Pacers)

Johnny Furphy was in the middle of a breakout campaign, starting 21 of 22 games and averaging 5.1 points and 4.4 rebounds, before tearing his ACL on February 8 in Toronto. 

Known for his athleticism and highlight-reel dunking, Furphy is expected to return mid-season on his $3.25 million contract. 

Indiana will manage his comeback carefully, but his early-season form showed he's capable of being a rotation regular once fully fit.

Matisse Thybulle (Los Angeles Lakers) 

Matisse Thybulle has signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Lakers after two injury-plagued seasons in Portland limited him to just 45 games combined. 

Despite the injuries, he's shot 41.8% from three over that stretch, making him an ideal three-and-D complement alongside Luka Doncic. 

If healthy, Thybulle's defensive pedigree on the wing gives Los Angeles a specialist capable of guarding the league's top perimeter scorers.

Josh Green (Utah Jazz) 

Josh Green's recent NBA journey has been a winding path, moving from Dallas to Minnesota as part of the LaMelo Ball trade before landing in Utah. 

Now in his seventh NBA season at 25, the Sydney native is playing out an expiring $14.68 million deal. 

A career 38.7% three-point shooter, Green was a key contributor to Dallas's run to the 2024 Finals, and he'll look to rebuild his value in Utah as a reliable wing option.

Ben Simmons (Sacramento Kings) 

The once prodigal son of Australian basketball, Ben Simmons was looking to get his NBA career back on track. signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal with Sacramento.

He looked sharp in the preseason too, posting a 14-point, eight-rebound, seven-assist line against San Antonio in just 26 minutes.

However, in a cruel twist of fate, a torn Achilles suffered in practice days before the season opener has ruled him out for the entirety of 2026/27. 

His Kings career is now on hold and unfortunately this latest development is very in vouge for one of the NBA’s greatest “what if” players. 

Rocco Zikarsky (Minnesota Timberwolves) 

The 45th pick in the 2025 draft, Rocco Zikarsky impressed in the G League with 15.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, while also featuring in five NBA games as a rookie. 

The 7'3" centre from the Sunshine Coast enters the second year of his two-way deal with Minnesota, continuing to develop his rim protection and rebounding as he pushes for a full-time roster spot.

Duop Reath (Phoenix Suns)

Duop Reath's 2025/26 season was derailed by a stress fracture in his foot requiring surgery, followed by a trade from Portland to Atlanta and subsequent waiving. 

He's now on a two-way deal with Phoenix, covering for the injured Mark Williams. Reath shot an efficient 41.8% from three last season, and his signing marks a full-circle moment after being cut by the Suns during 2022 Summer League.

Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks) 

Ok, hear us out. Rounding out our list of Aussies in the NBA for season 2026/27 is American international and nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving. 

Born in Melbourne, Irving is eligible to represent the Boomers and remains a key figure in Australia's broader basketball picture. 

He's working his way back from a torn ACL with Dallas on a whopping $55 million salary. 

Despite playing for the USA numerous times on the international stage, Irving has expressed hope of representing Australia at the LA Olympics, adding another storyline to watch as his recovery progresses.