The NBA’s Media Day has come and gone, with Jimmy Butler turning heads after debuting a bold, new look while Giannis Antetokounmpo answered questions about his future following the team’s blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard.
But a host of Australia’s NBA players were also made available to the media, with Josh Giddey revealing what he is putting a “heavy emphasis” on in his third year in the league.
Ben Simmons, meanwhile, spoke confidently ahead of his return to the court for the Brooklyn Nets while a few Australians on the move touched on how they will fit into their new teams.
Here are some of the key topics every Australian in the NBA touched on at Media Day!
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Blazers GM keen to move on from Dame | 01:14
JOSH GIDDEY (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Wanting to get to the free throw line more:
Giddey, who is entering his third season at the Oklahoma City Thunder, has already proven himself as a top-tier passer while his 3-point shooting still remains a work in progress.
But an underrated aspect of his game, and one the 20-year-old will need to lean into more to further enhance his ceiling on the offensive side of things, is his elite positional size.
Giddey already showed glimpses of that in the recent FIBA World Cup — and against Japan in particular, finishing with 26 points as he used size mismatches to his advantage and drove to the rim with aggression.
Of course, Giddey isn’t going to have that extreme of a size mismatch across the court in the NBA but he still certainly has an advantage as a guard with his 6-foot-9 frame.
Giddey only had 1.9 free throw attempts per game last season despite averaging 12.4 drives and it is something he is looking to increase ahead of his third year with OKC.
“I wanted to make a heavy emphasis on putting pressure on the refs to blow the whistle and get me foul calls and getting to the free throw line,” Giddey said.
“My first two years that was something I struggled with, was getting to the line a lot. I think I settled for a lot of floaters and a lot of short shots in the mid-range area as opposed to getting all the way to the rim and forcing the ref to make a call.
“That’s something that this year I’m putting an emphasis on, not settling for floaters and mid-range shots and getting to the rim. Getting to the free throw line is something I need to get better at and something I spent a bit of time at the World Cup trying to improve on.”
Using size mismatches to his advantage:
More broadly though, Giddey said he at times fell into the trap of underestimating his size and has been working with Mike Wilks — OKC’s assistant coach — to address that.
“That was something me and Mike Wilks, one of our coaches, we spent a lot of time on it,” Giddey said.
“I think sometimes I underestimate my size and I’m letting teams off the hook taking these mid-range shots as opposed to using my size and strength to get all the way to the rim. That’s something I want to put a heavy emphasis on. I think it helps match-up wise, obviously as a bigger guard you can see things a little better than the average-sized guard and I’m able to make a few extra passes.
“But putting myself in positions where my height and my size can be an advantage to the team is something we’re getting good at and coach is putting me in those positions to exploit teams. It is something I put an emphasis on, trying to use my size to hurt teams.”
Improving as a shooter:
Of course, 3-point shooting still remains a swing skill for Giddey but he can take some confidence from his gradual growth in that regard last season.
No one is asking Giddey to be a lights-out shooter from deep. He just needs to be respectable enough to warrant the respect and attention of the defence.
That, in turn, will only open up more driving lanes for Giddey to increase his free-throw attempts or even kick it out to open teammates like he already does so well.
“Shooting the ball is obviously a big emphasis for me that I wanted to improve on in the off-season,” Giddey said.
“I’m 20 years old, there’s so many things in my game that need to get better and improve. Some of that will come with time, other stuff comes with putting the work in the off-season.”
For the record, Giddey went from a 26.3 per cent 3-point shooter in his rookie year to 32.5 per cent in his sophomore season and is definitely trending up in that regard.
BEN SIMMONS (Brooklyn Nets)
It has been quite noticeable this summer that not only does Ben Simmons look in the best shape of his career but he’s also seemingly more confident than ever too.
After a tumultuous few seasons, the 27-year-old told YES Network on media day that this is “the best” he has “felt in a long time” after struggling in his return from back surgery last year.
Now Simmons is looking to be a key part of a young Brooklyn squad that he believes can push the pace and be one of the fastest teams in the league.
On how he feels and the road to recovery:
“I feel great,” Simmons said.
“This is the best I’ve felt in a long time. I had a real opportunity this summer to focus on myself, take my time and rehab properly and get to a place where I’m comfortable and physically able to compete at the highest level.
“There were multiple times that you just didn’t see Ben Simmons out there and that’s because I physically couldn’t do it.
“But for myself, my job is to put myself out there and try to do what I can on the court. Looking at it now, I was put in a place where I probably wasn’t feeling the greatest.
“I probably needed more time to rehab, truthfully. But at the same time I want to compete and help my teammates win.”
Simmons even went on to admit there were times he “couldn’t sit down properly”, such was the pain he was dealing with after being diagnosed with nerve impingement in his back.
“Sitting down here, it’s comfortable,” he said.
“There were times where I couldn’t sit down properly, I couldn’t get into cars and be comfortable sitting down too long. I wasn’t able to get up and perform and do things I needed to do.
“So for me now, I’m looking at it and day-to-day things are easier. I think that also takes a toll on you mentally if you’re not able to compete and do the things naturally you can do. It’s frustrating. But I’m in a place now where everyday is a lot easier.”
Simmons added that he took ownership of his rehab this summer, with pilates in particular playing a key role in his recovery.
“It’s the best,” the three-time All-Star said.
“I do it everyday. It’s something I’ve built into my everyday life and it helps tremendously. This summer I really took my rehab into my own hands.”
On having a team that can push the pace:
Whether Simmons can return to the same heights that saw him earn three All-Star selections remains to be seen.
What we already know though is that the 27-year-old is an elite facilitator, particularly in transition, and the make-up of Brooklyn’s current roster has Simmons excited in that regard.
The Australian is expecting the Nets to be “one of the fittest and most fast-paced” teams in the league.
“It’s exciting to have a group of guys that are willing to run, space the floor and get their shots,” Simmons said.
“I don’t think we have anyone on the team that’s worried about the individual shots or anything like that. I’m excited because I know I’m going to find my teammates pushing the ball. I know we have multiple guys who can push the ball.
“That’s something I’ve noticed coming into the league years ago. When you play with pace and everybody’s able to keep up with that pace, it’s hard to stop. Not everybody in the league wants to run… looking at this team, I think we can be one of the fittest teams and [most] fast-paced teams in the league.”
The Nets seemingly prioritised athleticism over shooting given some of their moves this offseason, trading away Joe Harris and Patty Mills.
Brooklyn did sign Cameron Johnson, who shot 45.5 per cent from 3-point land in games for Phoenix last season, to a four-year deal maxing out at $108 million with incentives.
On dealing with criticism and his relationship with coach Jacques Vaughn:
Simmons has faced his fair share of criticism over recent years, although the 27-year-old has quite a mature approach to it all — especially when you consider it would be easy to lash out given the personal nature of his mental health struggles recently.
“It’s difficult but at the same time it comes with it,” Simmons said.
“I know what’s expected of me, I know what I can do and what I’m capable of so I get it. If I was a fan I’d be frustrated too but also I know what’s going on, so physically when I wasn’t able to do it that’s what it was.
“That’s why I took the whole summer, put all the focus into myself and my body to get back to where I need to be.”
Simmons was famously thrown out of training by 76ers coach Doc Rivers during his time in Philadelphia and admitted his relationship with Brooklyn coach Jacques Vaughn has been “a little up and down”.
“It’s hard for a coach to really trust and believe in you when he’s not seeing it, right?” Simmons said.
“And I’m not able to physically do it. You can’t see it. As a coach, I’d do the same thing: I’m not going to play you when you’re not able to compete and do the things I know you can do, right?”
But then Vaughn was able to see Simmons’ progress this summer in person.
“So this summer, I’ve taken the time to get healthy, obviously. He came down to Miami a few times and saw me: That’s what it was,” Simmons said.
“He was able to see me get healthy, put the work in and put the time in and focus on myself and show him that I want to play at this level and be the point guard and do these things.
“So that comes with grace. When you put that work in, you’re going to get grace from the surrounding people, your teammates, your coaches, and staff.”
What have Simmons’ teammates been saying?
Nic Claxton: “He’s feeling a lot better, a lot more confident in himself. I know he’s ready to get out there. He has a lot of people to prove wrong. He wants to get back to his old self.”
Cam Thomas: “There’s not many players in the league that can do what he does. His size and athleticism, and his ability to distribute the ball, defend, rebound, score the ball. He’s a setup guy, and for myself, I can really benefit from playing with him. I think it can bear a lot of fruit.”
DYSON DANIELS (New Orleans Pelicans)
Coming into the NBA, Daniels had already established himself as arguably the most talented defender in his draft class.
It is why Pelicans coach Willie Green did not hesitate to give the Bendigo product minutes early in his career and he didn’t have much choice either as injuries piled up.
As the postseason approached though, the 20-year-old’s minutes dwindled with Daniels a non-factor in the team’s play-in tournament loss to Oklahoma City.
Heading into his sophomore season, Daniels told reporters while defence always will remain his priority he also knows he needs to increase his offensive output to get more minutes.
On finding his offensive identity:
Daniels averaged 3.8 points in 17.7 minutes per game last season but flashed his potential as the focal point of the Pelicans’ offence at the Summer League this year, averaging 14.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 7.2 rebounds.
The 20-year-old guard is unlikely to play the same role without injuries given New Orleans already have talented ballhandlers in Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.
It means becoming a more consistent shooting threat will be key to opening up Daniels’ game.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that can play with the ball and I think our team is very positionless,” Daniels said.
“We want to play fast, we want to get the ball out quick and push the pace. I feel like that’s something I can do with the ball. Obviously I’m not going to have the ball a lot this year because of some of the offensive firepower we have this year.
“So I’ve been learning to play in James Borrego’s offensive system — set screens, slip out of screens, uphill dribble handoffs, fakes and stuff like that. There’s a lot of different things I can do to impact the game and I’m looking forward to getting into training camp and playing with some new guys and playing in new positions.”
Pelicans coach Green told reporters that “creating an offensive identity” will be central to Daniels taking the next step, having already proven himself as an NBA-ready defender.
On changing his shooting technique:
Daniels went on to reveal that he has made changes to his shooting technique under the guidance of Pelicans assistant Fred Vinson.
While Daniels found other ways to score in the Summer League, he still struggled to shoot it from deep after going 2-for-20 from downtown in the tournament.
Having made just 31.4 per cent of his 3-pointers in his rookie season, Daniels said changing his hand placement on the ball has helped correct some of his shooting deficiencies.
“I think it’s huge,” Daniels said of improving his 3-point shooting.
“For me in Summer League I didn’t shoot the ball well at all. I’ve been working with Fred [Vinson] for the last month and a bit now. I’ve changed my shot again and completely changed my technique and I’m very happy with where I’m at now.
“I’ve changed my hand placement on the ball, so I’ve brought my guard hand back a little bit. I’ve got a quicker dip now. I’ve got a more out front reach rather than up. I’m just catching the ball relaxed.
“Last year I caught the ball with wide hands and I was gripping it too much so my fingers are relaxed and I’m able to get my follow through more, get a little bit more arc on the shot and softer touch around the rim. Last year the ball was hitting the rim too hard, this year it’s hitting it soft so it has a chance to go in if it does hit the rim.
“It was tough at the start because when you change something it’s not always going to work at the start but you’ve got to stick with it. The first week I was missing a lot of shots but the second and third week I’m starting to make more and more and be more consistent. I’ve definitely learnt a lot in this short month of changing my shot.”
On taking another leap as a defender:
From LeBron James to Luka Doncic and Russell Westbrook. Daniels had his fair share of tough defensive assignments for a rookie.
But that in itself spoke volumes of the confidence the Pelicans had in his impressive defensive instincts.
Even still, Daniels said he wants to further improve as a defender in his sophomore campaign and is looking to draw on the impact teammate Herb Jones had as one of the league’s best perimeter stoppers.
Jones had a team-high 103 steals last season despite missing 16 games and Daniels said he is hoping to have a “defensive impact this year rather than just being a defensive stopper”.
“Defence is what I pride myself on,” he said.
“That’s what got me on the floor last year and I want to make offensive strides this year but we have so much offensive firepower, it’s about making sure I play inside the system and for me on the defensive end I feel like last year I was able to stop people, I was able to guard people but this year I want to have a defensive impact.
“I want to be able to get in the lanes, get more steals, block more shots and be more like Herb. He’s always active, getting hands on balls and that’s what I want to do this year.”
PATTY MILLS (Atlanta Hawks)
It was quite the eventful offseason for Mills, who was first traded to Houston before immediately being dealt to Oklahoma City and then finally settling at the Hawks.
All of that happened in the space of 10 days too.
Mills will fill a bench role for Atlanta as an experienced and stable point guard option to help run the offence while also offering disruptive defensive presence if playing at his best.
The veteran guard had limited opportunities for Brooklyn last season, averaging just 6.2 points per game to go with 1.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 36.6 per cent from deep.
It was the 35-year-old’s worst 3-point shooting season since his 2014-15 campaign with San Antonio, although the lack of consistent playing time certainly played a significant role in that.
On his role in the team and playing under Quin Snyder:
Now with some much-needed clarity on his future, Mills is looking forward to being part of a young core that has struggled to really establish itself as a legitimate playoff contender in recent years.
“I’m very excited to be here in Atlanta. I’m extremely excited to be part of an organisation and a team, from being here only a few days now, but to feel the energy and excitement from everyone,” Mills said.
“Each and everyone understanding their role from players to coaches to staff. There’s a real goal here, so to come in and find my way, be a leader for this team and complement the other leaders that are here is very important.
“It’s been incredible to watch someone who I’ve seen as a rookie, to see him grow in San Antonio and then to see him make a change and see him continue to be on that growth at an extraordinary level has been awesome for me as a vet to follow along.
“His [Snyder] basketball mind is exceptional. The strategies going against him for so many years, I’m definitely pleased to be on the other side with him now.”
On playing with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray:
The Hawks are coming off three-straight playoffs appearances but have failed to progress past the first round in the past two seasons.
Whether Atlanta is able to finally take a step in the right direction towards a championship largely will depend on Trae Young, the undeniable face of the franchise.
The Hawks also re-signed Dejounte Murray to a four-year, $120 million contract extension this summer, with Mills describing the duo as “the head of the snake”.
“Coming into a locker room that is very talented, young and filled with that excitement is a great place to start,” Mills said.
“You put Trae, you put Dejounte… to be able to lead this thing down a path of success, my role and [that of] the other older guys’ [is] to be able to keep the group together. There’s going to be a lot of adversity as there always is every season but to be able to keep this group together and in a growth mindset is important.
“But Trae and Dejounte are obviously the head of the snake here and being able to empower them to be the players they are is very important.”
On the motto driving his fresh start:
Having spent a decade at San Antonio before his move to Brooklyn, it could be easy for Mills to question the path his career is heading in after what transpired this summer.
But the Boomers legend had a mature approach to the most eventful offseason of his career and it all centres around sticking solid with one motto in particular.
“It was probably a couple of years there where there were a lot of different things that were happening and changing, so I don’t think I was too surprised,” Mills said of his time at the Nets.
“But more just excited about an opportunity. A strong motto for me at the moment is: ‘Be where your feet are’. It’s about being present, making the most of the opportunities that are in the front of you and enjoy it.
“Being here in Atlanta is a great opportunity for me that I’m thoroughly excited about.”
JACK WHITE (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Joining Giddey at Oklahoma City this year will be Jack White, who knows a thing or two about winning after becoming the seventh Australian NBA champion last season.
While White didn’t see much playing time, only averaging 3.9 minutes across 17 games for the Denver Nuggets, it was an invaluable experience for the 26-year-old nonetheless.
Now White will have a better chance for more minutes at an Oklahoma City team that is still figuring out its identity and could always use a high-effort player of his calibre off the bench.
White though was signed to a deal cheap with minimal guarantees, meaning he will need to impress at training camp or risk being cut before the season tips off.
Giddey’s praise for White:
Boomers and now Thunder teammate Giddey though is confident White will fit right in at the Thunder given the winning habits he has picked up in stints with Melbourne United, Duke and Denver.
“You guys will love him,” Giddey said at media day.
“He’s awesome. A guy that plays with a lot of energy, makes the right play, makes the game easy for his teammates, will do the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.”
What kind of player the Thunder will be getting in White:
That proved the case at times in the recent FIBA World Cup, with White a late inclusion in Australia’s squad after former United teammate Jock Landale was ruled out due to injury.
White stepped up to make an immediate impact on both ends in the team’s World Cup opener against Finland, proving particularly effective in defence on NBA star Lauri Markkanen.
“My best strength is being a sort of 3-and-D guy on the wing and forward position, being able to rebound the ball really well for my size and position,” White said.
“Just being able to stretch the floor, being able to be reliable as an individual and team defender, being a communicator and great culture guy. But really, just trying to do all the simple things and all the hard-working, one per centre things that you need to win.
“I couldn’t really care too much about my individual stats or anything like that as long as I feel like I’m contributing to winning, that’s the most important thing to me and I’m super excited to try showcase that here.”
On any similarities between Denver and OKC:
While Oklahoma City is still building and unlikely to be in a position to contend like Denver was last season, White does see some similarities between the two franchises.
Namely, the 26-year-old pointed towards the lack of egos in the locker room with the Nuggets of course being led in that regard by selfless Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic.
“I think the biggest thing that is consistent across different teams and different levels is having that sort of camaraderie and team culture to fall back on,” White said.
“I think last year at Denver we just had a great bunch of guys. We had great vets, great young guys, obviously super talented players. It’s a long season, obviously there’s going to be ups and downs throughout two games and if you have sort of that base and relationship with your teammates and just a great culture within the group, it’s great to be able to fall back on that when things aren’t going well and obviously when things are going well you’re able to ride that wave and keep it at a high level.
“My experience here so far meeting all the guys and meeting all the staff… I definitely get that similar vibe from what I felt at Denver. Although it’s a young group we have great leadership and guys that are all-in and all about winning. There are no egos coming into the gym. I’m just super excited to see how it all comes together.”
JOE INGLES (Orlando Magic)
Like White, Ingles has also made the move from a contending team in Milwaukee to one on the rise in Orlando.
With former first overall pick Paolo Banchero leading a young Magic core, Ingles will provide some much-needed veteran leadership and experience off the bench and in the locker room.
On why he signed with the Magic:
Ingles signed with the Magic on a two-year, $22 million deal in free agency but the decision to join Orlando had more to do with family than it did with how much he was pocketing.
“I think for me as you get older, I’m not purely picking where I play basketball,” Ingles said.
“Obviously that’s a part of it but having my wife and kids and my son especially who is on the spectrum and starting school now, one of the things my agent obviously knew straight away is I wasn’t going anywhere where there wasn’t a school for Jacob so that does limit it a fair bit.
“But there was a great opportunity obviously with school, obviously the living side of it speaks for itself and then having a bit of a relationship with coach, kind of getting to know him over the last few years through some mutual connections and playing against him and how they’ve been trending upwards and the way they play.
“Just all of that combined in, it was a pretty easy decision in the end.”
On the lessons learned that Ingles can bring to a young core:
Of course, Ingles brings more than just a veteran presence to Orlando, also offering a catch-and-shoot option for a Magic team that finished 27th in the league last year in 3-point attempts per game.
Ingles will also offer a playmaking option to help run the young second unit and ease the pressure on Cole Anthony, who developed into a strong sixth man for the Magic last season.
“Obviously knowing that it is a younger group, luckily or not I’ve been around a fair bit,” Ingles said.
“I’ve played a lot of basketball. I’ve played for good teams, I’ve played on some average teams. Bringing those experiences to these guys on the daily basis, kind of understanding what it takes to win.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win 50-plus games for a number of years. That’s hard to do in this league, taking the right steps on a daily basis to get that and obviously with coach it’s a great voice of leading that and I think for me to be able to echo that from a players’ point of view, instead of just from a coach or front office, is important for me to do.
“I think I’ve got a good balance of being able to be that leader but still obviously do what I need to do on the court.”
On how he felt returning from a long injury layoff:
Ingles spent nearly 10 months away from the court before returning for Milwaukee in December from a torn ACL.
The veteran had a shaky first few shooting games as he started to get back into his rhythm before really heating up in January, shooting 45.8 per cent from downtown.
As the regular season drew towards a close Ingles was providing even more spark off the bench, averaging 8.5 points and 3.5 assists while making 50.8 per cent of his 3-point attempts.
“I started to feel really good at the end of the Milwaukee season,” Ingles said.
“I guess it was a bit of a weird time for me because I was still kind of coming back from that, had a bit of time off, spent the summer in L.A. to get ready for the World Cup, felt really good going into that, had a couple of injuries in the first game.
“I had a couple of injuries in the first game of that, that probably slowed my upper body down a little bit but my knee feels great, fitness levels feel great… now it’s about getting the game reps in.
“Playing with a new group it’s really about learning about how they play individually and as a team. Coach has been great at watching some film on the side just trying to get the understanding of it but I guess that’s one of the hardest parts, coming to a new team — especially when 90 per cent of the team is the same.
“So it’s me really just trying to get on the same page as them.”
MATISSE THYBULLE (Portland Trail Blazers)
Thybulle may be 10 years younger than Ingles but he too will be a veteran of sorts for a younger Portland Trail Blazers squad to lean on.
Thybulle, who was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a three-team deal this February, is now the third-oldest player on Portland’s roster after superstar guard Damian Lillard was dealt to Milwaukee.
On stepping into more of a leadership role:
With the offence now in the hands of rookie Scoot Henderson, Thybulle is set to offer a much-needed disruptive defensive presence in the starting small forward role.
Shaedon Sharpe and rookie Kris Murray are likely to be the strongest competition to Thybulle’s starting spot.
“Being more of a veteran player now, I think the biggest thing for me is being available and probably in my case being a bit more vocal,” Thybulle said.
“But I have four seasons under my belt now and for me it feels like a pretty solid foundation of knowing what I’m doing out there or at least pretending really, really well. For the young players, if I see something I can help them with [it is] just being willing and able to step in and then for me also just continuing to learn.
“This is my first team playing on such a young team. For me it’s a new experience and with that there’s a lot [that intrigues me]. I wouldn’t say there’s any thing. I’d say the potential for the speed we can play with is intriguing to most of us here.”
On the Dame trade and his own uncertain future:
It was an eventful offseason for the Trail Blazers, with Lillard eventually traded to the Bucks almost two months after making the request in the first place.
Thybulle admitted he felt “bad” for Lillard given how long it took for the move to be finalised, having also struggled with the uncertainty of his own playing future.
The versatile Boomer signed a three-year, $33 million offer sheet with the Mavericks but the Trail Blazers decided to match the offer, securing his services until at least the 2024-25 season.
“It’s a business, right? I ended up here because of the business of basketball, so I understand it a little bit differently than I might have before I got traded,” Thybulle said.
“Also just to speak on peace of mind, even for me signing the contract this summer. Until I had it signed it was actually quite stressful, just not knowing where you’re going to end up, not knowing what you’re going to make and for long.
“So, for him I feel bad it took so long, to be unsettled for that long not knowing where you’re going to land. I hope it works out. It leaves us with a really going and really fast group, a group that can build and for me being here that’s my main concern.”
Speaking of being unsettled, Thybulle even went on to reveal that he had only just found a place to live after spending a few months “living out of duffle bags”.
“I found a place to live last week, so I’m really excited about that. I’ve been joking with friends, I’ve been living out of duffle bags since February so to now have a place I can put my stuff and things and start to settle in is very, very exciting,” he added.
On his role and development as a shooter:
Like second-year Pelicans guard Daniels, Thybulle’s elite defensive instincts have always kept him on the court, with Portland coach Chauncey Billups describing him as a “wizard”.
The challenge for Thybulle, as is the case for Daniels, has been offering a consistent shooting threat to space the floor.
The 26-year-old made strides in that area of his game since making the move to Portland last season, shooting 38.8 per cent from downtown compared to 32.5 per cent in four seasons at Philadelphia.
“I think my role is the same on any team in the NBA,” Thybulle said.
“I think what’s different here or the opportunity I’ve had here and what’s been different in the past is the involvement I’ve been able to have offensively.
“But at the end of the day, what keeps me in the NBA and what got me here is what I do defensively and the things you do better than everyone else is what gets you here and those things don’t change overnight or in a year.
“For me, it’s just been to continue to do that well and then just build on the things I want to improve. Shooting for me is a thing that was a problem of opportunity and then when I got here the opportunity showed itself and the numbers showed in my ability to do it.
“Now just having an offseason where I got to put more work under my belt and continue to improve on that, this season will be yet another chance to prove it some more.”
JOSH GREEN (Dallas Mavericks)
There is plenty on the line heading into Green’s fourth season in the NBA.
Having flashed his potential powering the Dallas offence without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the challenge for Green is to now find ways to contribute without the ball in his hands as much.
Green’s confidence seemed to wane at times throughout the year, with the 22-year-old having a few strong shooting games before going cold in others.
On a whole though it was an impressive third year for the Australian wing, who shot 40.2 per cent from downtown while averaging 9.1 points in 25.7 minutes — all career-high numbers.
On the key areas of improvement in his game:
The Mavericks have reportedly opened contract extension talks with Green, who spoke at media day about the biggest areas of improvement he targeted in the summer.
“A big focus of mine was making sure I was in the weight room a lot, continuing to try build a bigger upper body,” Green said.
“And then just staying consistent through my whole game just playing more one-on-one in tight situations, three seconds to get a shot off, being consistent with my 3.
“The main thing was making sure I was deliberate with everything I did. I knew I had the World Cup this offseason so as soon as we didn’t make the playoffs I kind of straight away went to work there for two-and-a-half months before being able to head to Australia for camp. It was a fun summer and I feel like I got a lot out of it.
“I think a big focus is making sure I’m consistent with everything, with 3-point shooting and just making sure I’m able to get a lot of reps up.
“But I’d say my biggest thing I tried to improve is the 1-on-1 game and just making sure I’m comfortable with the ball, especially at the end of shot clocks and everything like that. If I get put into a situation where I need to score I worked on that.”
Green also conceded he has at times been the “quieter guy” in the team, adding he is looking to become a more “vocal leader” in his fourth year.
On a potential contract extension with Dallas:
Green was certainly leaving no doubt that he wants to stay put with the Mavericks, telling reporters he “wants to win” with the Mavericks.
“I’m going to work as if I’m going to be here for a long time,” he said.
“I want to win in Dallas, I want to be in Dallas, so whatever their decision is their decision. But at the end of the day, I’ve got the same goal every single day and that is to be the best teammate and best player I can be.”
What new Australian teammate Dante Exum said about him:
Green will team up with Boomers teammate and former fifth overall pick Dante Exum this season.
Exum said on Media Day that Green had an immediate impact on Australia’s World Cup campaign when he took to the court after being sidelined with a few niggling injuries and is looking forward to continuing to see his growth.
“It’s great. Just seeing his growth as a player when I was watching him on the Mavs and then in the Australian team what he’s able to bring for us and then even these couple of days he’s been in training camp and just how he conducts himself and the steps that he takes to be a professional and be the guy he is on court, it’s amazing to see,” Exum said.
“I know he battled a bit of an ankle injury coming in but as soon as he stepped on the floor it changed us dramatically. He was picking up full court, just a dog on the ball.”
JOCK LANDALE (Houston Rockets)
Green wasn’t the only Boomers player to suffer an injury setback in the lead-up to this year’s World Cup, with Landale a late scratching from the Australian team after turning his left ankle.
Landale was set to play a key role for the Boomers as the team’s clear leading big man but instead was forced to watch from home, although it gave him time to study up on new Houston teammate Alperen Şengün.
The 27-year-old was rewarded for a strong showing with the Suns in the playoffs last season, signing a four-year, $32 million contract with the Rockets in free agency.
Landale will operate as Houston’s first option to backup Şengün and will need to perform if he is to see the entirety of his contract, with just one year guaranteed.
On why he signed with Houston:
“Look it’s a business, part of it was financial and I won’t hide from that fact,” an honest Landale admitted.
“The other part is I’ve come to a situation where we’re on the precipice of turning this thing around and getting it back on track in terms of winning and that really excites me, being part of a program where they’re making all the right decisions to get back into playoff contention and I really wanted to be a part of that. Phoenix was an unbelievable experience.
“I would love to go back there and compete for a championship but I was also really excited by the opportunity to come to Houston and help this team over a few years get back towards the winning circle.”
On the ankle injury:
“I feel really good,” Landale said.
“It was a bit of an interesting process because obviously I was eager to play in the World Cup and then when it happened 12 hours before we were taken off to Tokyo that was pretty disheartening but we sat there in Melbourne for about a week, kind of got the bleeding in the ankle to stop and then jumped on the flight and managed to inflame it because that’s a damn long flight out to Houston.
“It went big as it ever was. From there it was just a process of getting that swelling out over a week-and-a-half and then we’ve been rehabbing since then. The rehab process has been phenomenal here and it’s in a place where I can play right now if I have to. We’re pretty pumped with the progress.”
On what he is going to bring to Houston:
“Just what I try to bring to every other team I suppose is just a level of toughness, playing hard every single possession,” Landale said.
“I’m going to make mistakes but there will be no lack of effort, run hard up and down the court, play defence, rebound on both ends of the court. Just try and apply as much pressure all-round every game.
“I’m going to help get these guys open as much as I can, just set screens and do the dirty work and I think that last year really cleared itself up for me moving forward is that that’s what my role is going to be.
“My role is going to be playing between the gaps and really doing the dirty work to help the more prominent scorers out, shoot good shots, not really force anything and play winning basketball the right way.”
Meanwhile, Landale shot just 25.0 per cent from deep last season but is confident he can improve on that after seeing immediate results as he ramps up to return from injury.
“I didn’t have a great year shooting the ball last year,” Landale said.
“I think everyone knows that but that was something where towards in the end it was just the reality of the situation was, ‘Hey, we’ve got a lot of guys that can score the ball, we don’t need another one, so where can you fit in?’.
“I was totally content with just being able to help those guys get open and then get my shot creation, offensive rebounds and rim running and I love that stuff. That was a really enjoyable role for me and I’d be content doing it again. I think I can help the team a lot this year. I’ve been shooting the ball really well since coming back from my injury and in the few days I’ve played live there’s been a carryover effect there.”
On first impressions of the team:
This Houston squad is definitely a work in progress, a far cry from the juggernaut Landale left behind in Phoenix with superstar Bradley Beal the latest addition to the stacked roster.
The Rockets though are building quite the talented, young roster with rookies Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson joining Şengün, Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr.
Landale though had not been able to see much of his teammates in person when asked for his first impressions of the Rockets at Media Day.
“That’s the tough thing,” Landale said.
“I’ve been on the opposite schedule of the team thus far just doing my rehab when they’ve been up on court and then we flip flop so then I go up and I haven’t seen a whole lot just yet. “I got to witness a little bit down in the Bahamas when we went down there as a team and I think we have some extremely high-level young talent and a young core.
“We just need to understand how to play the game the right way and that’s where Ime [Udoka] and his coaching staff have been pushing the guys this offseason and just teaching them how to make the right reads, teaching them how to play with each other and play winning basketball. That’s where I think we’re going to take a big step this season.”
What he can teach/offer Şengün:
While Landale hadn’t seen much of his Rockets teammates in person, he did remember playing against Houston last season and one key deficiency stood out.
“I remember playing against Houston last year there wasn’t a whole lot of boxing out that was going on necessarily so just doing those little things that help teams win in the long run is an area I can help him with,” Landale said when asked what he could offer to Şengün, who he described as an “unbelievable” talent.
Landale did have plenty of spare time during the World Cup and said he “watched a lot” of Şengün, studying up on what he does well and where he may still need to improve.
“I watched Turkey play, not in the World Cup games, but they were playing against other national teams and you can tell there is a guy right there that cares about winning, who has it all offensively,” Landale said.
“I think where I can help him is just by pushing him. I’m someone who doesn’t take possessions off and plays hard every possession and I think I can help him in that regard.
“I took a big step defensively last year as an undersized, not the most athletic centre going around and I think I can help him out being good positionally defensively and then just pushing him.
“Making him chase me up and down the court, applying pressure on the offensive end and the glass.”
DANTE EXUM (Dallas Mavericks)
It has been a long road back to the NBA for Exum, who was taken fifth overall by the Utah Jazz in 2014.
“I felt like I had the skill to be here but being healthy has kind of been the problem,” Exum said on Media Day.
“But I think going over to Europe and spending the last two seasons there has helped me tremendously, learning their game and how they play it and the importance of valuing the ball and possession.”
Exum, who was traded to Cleveland late in 2019 before being waived by Houston two years later, signed with Barcelona in the summer of 2021.
Most recently he suited up for Partizan, leading the team with 11.2 points per game while also improving his 3-point shooting to make 47 per cent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
“I wouldn’t take it back in any sense but I’m glad I was kind of able to fight my way back here but I think it’s just staying on court, staying healthy and making sure everyday I’ve been working on my game and on areas in my game that haven’t been my strong suit and making them a strong suit now,” Exum added.
“… This opportunity means the world to me. Just the path I’ve gone down and experiences I’ve gone through being in the league, being a high draft pick and then going over to Europe, it’s tough. Not a lot of people come back.
“So for me I think I want to come back and stay, show teams that I can be useful, I can be a piece going forward.”
On deciding to join the Mavericks:
“There were a few teams that were interested but I think the Mavs provided a unique opportunity,” Exum said.
“Obviously them having Kyrie and Luka, it’s a lot of minutes taken up but I think where my strong suits are in pushing the ball and being a fast, over-sized point guard is going to help me so that’s kind of why I liked the Mavs too.”
On making leaps in his shooting:
“The biggest thing for me has just been the confidence,” said Exum.
“I’ve always said if I missed my first one I’m going to make the second one, if I miss my second one I’ll make the third one so that’s just kind of the mindset I’ve had with my shooting.
“I’ve always felt like I’ve had form and just wasn’t confident. Obviously going over to Europe provided me with the opportunity to just be confident with it and shoot it.”
On what sort of role he could play for Dallas:
Mavericks fans already got a glimpse into the answer to that question during the World Cup, where Exum’s elite athleticism and length gave the Boomers a versatile, switchable option on defence.
Exum though also used those exact qualities to his advantage with the ball in hand too, helping push the pace in transition. Put simply, Exum said he wants to be an “energy guy”.
“I want to bring that energy when I come in,” Exum said.
“I like to push the ball, play fast. The coaches talked about that a bit this year, playing a bit faster and open-court transition, that’s where I’m going to try excel the most.
“My spot shot is the best it’s ever been, so whether it’s playing on ball and pushing the ball or having to play off it and be ready to shoot, that’s what I’m going to be able to do.”
Exum also later revealed that when he first went into the league Dennis Lindsey, who drafted him with the Jazz, told him he was a “horrible defender”.
“So, I took that to heart and that’s something I wanted to focus on,” Exum added.
“I want to be the guy that if you walk on the court and there’s a guy that’s dominant offensively, I want to be the guy [who says], ‘I will take him.’
“… That’s why when I was playing in that series against James Harden [in 2018] I think I was able to stop him. To have the confidence to move my feet, play a bit harder.
“I feel like the European game is a lot [more] physical and I’m going to gauge it as soon as I get on the court here and see how physical I can be. But I know a lot of the players are very smart in how they draw fouls so it’s something I’ve got to be very careful about.”
DUOP REATH
Reath signed a one-year deal with the Blazers after impressing in the absence of Landale at the World Cup, making the most of his opportunity as Australia’s starting big man.
Portland already got a look at Reath at the Summer League too, where he averaged 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks in 19.5 minutes.
According to Spotrac, Reath is one of six players on the Blazers roster that is on an Exhibit-10 contract.
It is a minimum, one-year deal that allows NBA teams to bring in players to provide competition at training camp so it remains to be seen whether Reath will figure on the roster once the season tips off.