By james art The NBA has a stronger Australian flavor than ever.
On the eve of the opening, a record thirteen places for Australians for the 2024-25 NBA season – more if you count foreign-born players representing Australia.
The Australian contingent includes Boomers stars Patty Mills (Utah Jazz), Joe Ingles (Minnesota Timberwolves), Josh Giddy (Chicago Bulls) and Josh Green (Charlotte Hornets), all of whom are preparing for new teams.
Also in action: mercurial — and maligned — Ben Simmons (Brooklyn Nets); rookie Johnny Furfee (Indiana Pacers); plus 2024 Paris Olympics athletes Jock Landale (Houston Rockets), Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks), Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks) and Jack McVay, the sharp-shooting NBL champion who signed a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets.
Curiously, the Association lists Mavs point guard Kyrie Irving as an Australian player (Irving is a dual citizen who was born in Melbourne but plays for Team USA) but omits Portland trailblazer Mathis Tiboul, who was born in Arizona. but plays for the Boomers.
Fellow Boomer and Blazer Duop Reath is bound for South Sudan, according to the NBA’s official roster, which on opening night featured a record-tying 125 international players across all franchises, tying the records set early in 2023-24 and 2017-18 the season.
All 30 teams have at least one international player.
Australia is the third most represented non-US country, a column led by Canada (21) and France (14).
The NBA season kicked off with the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics winning at home against the New York Knicks, 132-109, with the Celtics receiving their championship rings during a pregame ceremony. Then the Los Angeles Lakers won at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103.
Australian players on 24/25 opening night rosters
• Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
• Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets
• Josh Green, Charlotte Hornets
• Josh Giddy, Chicago Bulls
• Luke Travers*, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Dante Exum, Dallas Mavericks
• Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
• Jack McVay*, Houston Rockets
• Jock Landale Houston Rockets
• Indiana Pacers’ Johnny Furfee links to Papua New Guinea
• Joe Ingles Minnesota Timberwolves
• Alex Ducasse* Oklahoma City Thunder
• Patti Mills Utah Jazz
(* bilateral agreement)