In what’s been a rollercoaster season for Josh Giddey, can he go to another level by improving in one key area?

Plus Ben Simmons closes in on his return, Dyson Daniels’ defensive impact laid bare, and more!

Below foxsports.com.au looks at how all the Australians in the NBA have been tracking in recent weeks.

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JOSH GIDDEY (OKC Thunder)

It continues to be a rollercoaster season for Giddey.

Though he’s had some good games mixed in, the 21-year old Aussie hasn’t quite been able to capture the same consistency of his first two brilliant NBA campaign amid the emergence of Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams moving into a bigger role for the Thunder, the West’s No. 2 seed.

There was some good news last week after it was confirmed Giddey wouldn’t face charges following a police investigation into his alleged relationship with an underage age, though the NBA is still probing the matter.

A weight off the shoulders for what would no doubt be a distraction for Giddey including getting booed by nearly every opposition fan base, he produced one of his best games of the season thereafter against Utah.

The OKC guard racked up a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double with six assists, which marked his second 20-plus point game of the campaign.

For Locked On Thunder’s Rylan Stiles, Giddey being more aggressive in the paint and scoring more efficiently inside the arc is the key to his growth as a player.

“You’re going to want Josh Giddey to get better at scoring inside the arc – that’s going to really be the swing for him. Because he’s just not going shoot enough three-pointers to where it even matters to adjust to him on the perimeter,” Stiles observed.

“That’s not his fault, that’s just not going to be his style of play. And that’s not going to be how the Thunder play – they are not going to feed him 10 three-pointers a game.

“So for Giddey, when he’s played some of his top games of he season, he’s been doing damage at the rim and inside the arc. That’s where you’re going to want to see him thrive.

“That’s where he thrived in FIBA, he can do it. And when he does, it’s going to really unlock things for him.”

BEN SIMMONS (Brooklyn Nets)

Injuries have again plagued Simmons this season, but he appears to be finally nearing a return.

The Aussie, who joined the Nets on their three-game road trip in Portland and LA, warmed up ahead of his team’s upset win over the Lakers, where he was seated courtside for the match at Crypto.com Arena in the most promising sign yet he’s ready to play.

Simmons has been slowly ramping up his activity from a back injury that’s sidelined him since early November. He’s now considered to be on the home stretch of his rehab, which includes participating in five-on-five practice.

The 6-foot-10 guard has featured in only six games, averaging 6.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists for a 17-25 Nets side that sits outside the play in and would be desperate for the former All-Star to get back.

You sense when Simmons does make his return, the Nets will take an ultra conservative approach with him in gradually increasing his workload.

DYSON DANIELS (New Orleans Pelicans)

Though Daniels’ role has fluctuated as times on a stacked Pelicans team that might have the deepest rotation in the NBA, the youngster has been a valuable defensive weapon whenever called upon by Willie Green.

And the basketball world is taking notice.

Speaking on The Lowe Post, ESPN journalist Zach Lowe recently made mention of Daniels’ tenacity and hustle in an approach that sets the 20-year old apart from others.

“When Dyson Daniels and Herb Jones are on the floor together … it’s not safe to dribble. Dyson Daniels probably denies people at the grocery store … if it’s him and you for the last grapefruit, he’s gonna use his shopping cart to deny you access,” Lowe said.

The numbers back it up.

In statistics put out by Bball Index on X (formerly Twitter), Daniels this season has been the No. 2 ranked point of attack defender – a defender who’s basically on the frontline/perimeter guarding the opposition’s primary initiator.

The only player ranked ahead of Daniels is Boston stud and All-Star smoky Derrick White in a fair endorsement of the emerging Aussie’s impact and willingness to buy in defensively.

JOSH GREEN (Dallas Mavericks)

Green has overcome an injury-disrupted start to his season to get going in recent times.

Over his last three games, the 23-year old has averaged 13 points on 53 per cent shooting, two three-pointers, for rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes.

It included Green in the Mavericks’ win over New Orleans last week hitting a huge clutch three to clinch the win late or Dallas.

It’s clear Jason Kidd sees something in the young gun and views him as a key part of his team’s future.

Not only is Green showing better signs on offence, he was also recently praised by teammate Grant Williams for his work on the defensive end of the court.

“When Josh picks up full court and guards Jalen Brunson in that game. No one would really see that, and how much Jalen was pissed in that game … Josh sets the tone when he starts,” Williams said.

DANTE EXUM (Dallas Mavericks)

The career resurrection of Exum was one of the great stories of the early stages of this season before a heel injury has since sidelined the guard for the last eight games.

He recently went through full practice though and is listed as doubtful – not out – to play on Tuesday, so there’s signs a return is on the horizon, even if it’s a few games away yet.

A video uploaded to social media showed Exum getting light three-point shots up in the part of his game he’s really improved in. The Aussie has shot 45 per cent from beyond the arc on 1.7 makes per 36 minutes in a key to his NBA revival.

His uptick in form was most prevalent when the Mavs were dealing with a series of injuries, so it’ll fascinating what Exum’s role is – whether he starts or comes off the bench and how many touches he gets – as well as how he fares overall when he returns on Dallas’ full-strength squad.

JOCK LANDALE (Houston Rockets)

The centre remains in a lessened role for Houston, effectively functioning as its third-string centre behind Alperen Sengun and Jeff Green.

So limited has Landale been despite signing a four-year, $32 contract last off-season that his 8.9 minutes per game are the lowest of his three seasons in the NBA after previous stints at Phoenix (where he averaged 14.2 minutes er game) and San Antonio (10.9).

While the arrow has been pointing down for Houston in recent times – the team has lost six of its last eight games – it’s still hard to see a pathway to bigger minutes for Landale with Sengun, one of the most improved players in the league, holding down the pivot spot.

It could put Landale on trade watch in the lead into the February 9 deadline should the Rockets make a move including being one of many reported suitors for Bruce Brown.

JOE INGLES (Orlando Magic)

Jinglin’ Joe is back!

After a 13-game absence due to a an ankle injury, Ingles returned for the Magic a fortnight ago in a welcome inclusion to shore up the team’s bench and get its season moving back in the right direction.

In fact, the numbers with Ingles in and out of the team are telling.

In the 14 games the veteran has missed overall this season, Orlando is 5-9, compared to 18-11 with him in the side.

This isn’t to put all of Orlando’s improvement and success on Ingles, as he’s just an 18-minute a game player off the bench. However it highlights the impact the Aussie has had on the team and his importance as a steady playmaker and wise head in the second unit as well as overall leader on a young side.

DUOP REATH (Portland Trail Blazers)

After an epic stretch where Reath was getting heavy starters minutes for Portland while Deandre Ayton was sidelined, the 26-year old Aussie centre has moved back to the bench.

Reath showed plenty during that period though – he averaged 13.4 points, seven rebounds, 1.7 triples on 41 per cent shooting with an overall true shooting percentage of 61 per cent over a nine-game run.

Even in Ayton’s return against Indiana over the weekend, Reath played 19 minutes off the bench in a slightly heightened role to what he’d had previously. Reath backed that up with 16 points, two threes, three rebounds, four assists and one block in 22 minutes against the Lakers on Monday.

Chauncy Billups now knows if Ayton gets into foul trouble or isn’t playing well, Reath is a genuine option he can bring in to impact the game.

Sometimes all it takes is waiting for your opportunity.

Reath has been one of the most impressive Aussies in the NBA this season and now figures to have a bigger role to play for the Boomers in this year’s Paris Olympics.

MATISSE THYBULLE (Portland Trail Blazers)

Though it’s been a grim season for the rebuilding Blazers, Thybulle has been an important piece in their rotation as still one of the game’s premier defenders.

Not necessarily a direct correlation to playing good defence, he still ranks equal-third in total steals in the NBA this season.

Tybulle has importantly plugged holes when the team has suffered injury setbacks, with the forward’s versatility one of his strengths. Now with Shaedon Sharpe set to miss a couple of weeks, Thybulle should benefit in a larger role.

One area Thybulle has really improved as a Blazer since being traded from Philadelphia last year is his three-point shooting – he’s averaged 1.4 triples for the team on 37 per cent efficiency – the best returns of his career.

Given the 26-year old doesn’t appear to be in the Blazers’ future plans, he could also be on trade watch ahead of the deadline.

In fact, the Bucks are one team that have been linked to Thybulle – a link that makes sense given the team has struggled on the defensive end of the court despite having built a juggernaut offence around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

NBA reporter Chris Haynes, who first revealed Milwaukee as a surprise suitor for Dejounte Murray, mentioned Thybulle as another name to watch as a potential defensive upgrade for Adrian Griffin’s side.

“(The Bucks) do require a point of attack defender. There’s a lot of guys out there that fit that mould – allow me to throw some names out there that could help Milwaukee – you’re talking about somebody like Alex Caruso, Dorian Finney-Smith and Matisse Thybulle,” Haynes said on #thisleague UNCUT podcast.

“These are all names out there that are circulating that have some links to the Milwaukee Bucks as being that guy they can plug in to be that point of attack defender.

“Milwaukee is being very aggressive out there, that’s what I’ve heard, in surveying the market and seeing what’s available. (General manager) Jon Horst, he’s working those phones for sure.”

PATTY MILLS (Atlanta Hawks)

In what’s been a tough campaign for the veteran in Atlanta getting little to no opportunities, Mills might now have his best chance yet to show Hawks coach Quin Snyder he deserves more minutes.

Trae Young has entered concussion protocols to open up short-term opportunities in the Hawks’ backcourt, with Mills looming as one of the beneficiaries.

Mills already showed he was ready when his name was called. The sharpshooting guard got his biggest run for the season when Young missed the team’s win over Miami on the weekend, dropping a season-high 11 points with three tripes in a season-high 18 minutes.

More of that please, Snyder!

Atlanta is also a team expected to shake up its roster by the deadline, with Dejounte Murray likely on the move. And so Mills’ situation appears fluid including the possibility of the beloved Aussie finding a new home, with his expiring deal a movable asset.