Josh Giddey is pressured on the sidelines in a “irritating” blow to his All-Star hopes. Plus what a bombshell commerce shake-up may imply for Dyson Daniels, and others ramping up from harm.
Learn on for the newest with the Australians within the NBA!
Watch NBA with ESPN on Kayo Sports activities | Stream a mean 9 LIVE Common Season video games per week plus the perfect of the NBA Playoffs.| New to Kayo? Be part of now and get your first month for simply $1.
JOSH GIDDEY (Chicago Bulls)
Giddey is presently sidelined with a hamstring pressure in an unlucky setback amid a career-best season.
The merciless blow is predicted to shelf Giddey for a number of weeks, whereas it got here after the 17-19 Bulls crucially steered their season again in the precise course following a tough stretch.
The undermanned Bulls have been grappling with different accidents, however the absence of Giddey leaves the most important void because the motor of the staff.
“Comfortable tissue stuff you don’t need to play with,” Giddey stated after sustaining the harm towards Minnesota final week.
“You don’t need to rush these items again, you need to take the protected route. In saying that, we’re going to do all the things we will to get again to enjoying as rapidly as potential.
“Nonetheless lengthy that appears, I don’t know proper now. However we’re doing all the things we will, however as safely as potential as properly … I’m nonetheless doing 90 per cent of the issues I used to be doing earlier than this harm got here up.”
It’s particularly merciless timing for Giddey, given he’d put himself able for a maiden All-Star berth.
The 23-year outdated has averaged career-highs throughout the board in factors (19.2 per recreation) rebounds (8.9) and assists (9) together with capturing 38.6 per cent from downtown with 1.9 makes.
Booker hits game-winning 3 over OKC | 01:31
It was sufficient for Giddey to characteristic 14th within the prime All-Star vote-getters within the Japanese Convention to not less than put him within the dialog.
The Aussie even admitted it added an additional stage of “frustration” to his harm.
“Each participant that performs this recreation and performs within the NBA desires to be an All-Star and all these issues. I’m no totally different,” he added.
“Clearly that half is irritating, however extra so than that, it’s not having the ability to play and attempt to win video games with these guys.
“Any time you’re injured, it’s irritating, however you mix that in there as properly, I suppose it’s just a little extra irritating.”
76ers prolong Knicks shedding streak | 00:51
DYSON DANIELS (Atlanta Hawks)
The defensive dynamo is coming off a productive December.
Daniels averaged 13.5 factors on 48 per cent capturing, 6.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation, although the Hawks went simply 3-10 over the month to slip to the ultimate East play-in spot.
He had an particularly good recreation in Atlanta’s latest contest towards Toronto, filling up the field rating with 20 factors, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, two steals and two blocks.
It was arguably Daniels’ finest efficiency of the season and a exhibiting of how a lot impression he can have on each ends of the ground — not simply the defensive finish, the place he’s thrived.
It marked the 22-year outdated’s fifth double-double this season and the fifteenth of his profession. It additionally marked his fifth profession outing with 10-plus assists.
The Aussie’s Hawks could possibly be set for a shake-up, with experiences the staff is working with Trae Younger to seek out the All-Star guard a brand new residence through a commerce.
So how would that impression Daniels?
Whereas it’s laborious to get a full learn on, given Atlanta would get participant/s again in a deal, the numbers present Daniels has performed significantly better with out Younger this season.
In 27 video games with out Younger this season, Daniels has averaged 13 factors per recreation, 6.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 34.5 minutes with a real capturing share of 54.3 and +61 plus/minus.
It’s given Daniels extra ball dealing with and playmaking tasks and customarily allowed him scope to do extra on offence.
In his 9 video games with Younger this season, nevertheless, Daniels’ numbers drop to 7.8 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 32.9 minutes with a real capturing share of 44.4 and -62 plus/minus.
Once more, the Hawks may deliver again one other level guard for Younger that would fully change the dynamic once more, for higher or worse.
One a part of his recreation Daniels is but to get going this season is his 3-point capturing, which is at a career-low 12.3 per cent. Whereas it’s a regarding quantity, it additionally shows how a lot upside he nonetheless has and maybe how he’s due for some constructive regression to the imply.
However for Fred Katz, a senior NBA author at The Athletic, it’s an indication that Daniels has “misplaced his confidence”, which was one thing he battled at occasions with the Pelicans.
“The entire thing with him in New Orleans was he’d miss some pictures after which impulsively he’d be like, ‘Missed a shot, I’m form of out’… and all of it snowballs,” Katz stated on ‘The Zach Lowe Present’.
“Final yr, he hit some pictures and the Hawks have been actually excited that they felt like he form of developed from that and this yr I feel there’s been some reversion.
“You possibly can see hesitancy in different elements of his recreation. Don’t get me improper, defensively he’s nonetheless wonderful however I don’t suppose he’s been on the (identical) stage defensively as he was final yr… I feel there was extra hesitance in his recreation general and to me with him, that all the time begins along with his capturing. He will get in his personal head about it.”
LeBron & Luka go huge in Lakers win | 01:26
TYRESE PROCTOR (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Because the Cavaliers get wholesome following a disrupted begin to the season, Proctor’s on-court alternatives have diminished.
However we’ve seen a few of the better of the Aussie rookie when he’s been given prolonged possibilities.
In the one two video games within the month of December Proctor logged double digit minutes, he produced two of his finest performances but.
That included an 12-point outing towards Indiana and a 16-point, six-rebound effort in his first career-start towards Chicago.
It’s encouraging information factors for Kenny Atkinson to know that Proctor can contribute at an honest stage when referred to as upon.
Nonetheless alternatives have been few and much between thus far in 2026. Proctor has made only one look within the new yr, going scoreless in 5 minutes towards Denver.
It’s a reminder of the up-and-down nature of a rookie season, particularly when enjoying for a staff with actual title ambitions like Cleveland.
LUKE TRAVERS (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Travers stays away from the Cavs within the G League. And like with Proctor, NBA alternatives will solely be extra scarce the more healthy Cleveland will get.
The Perth native continues to place up huge numbers within the G League.
Travers went off for a career-best 27 factors for the Cleveland Cost of their thrilling time beyond regulation win over the Lengthy Island Nets this week, including 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
It comes after he racked up 24 factors and 15 rebounds towards Delaware Blue Coats a fortnight in the past to showcase his versatile skillet.
NBA Wrap: Powell lights up Pistons | 01:00
JOHNNY FURPHY (Indiana Pacers)
Ramping up after an harm interrupted first quarter of the season.
Furphy has began in three of his 17 video games — together with two of the final three — however his minutes stay restricted as Indiana eases the second-year participant again into constant enjoying time.
Whereas his numbers don’t bounce off the web page, a whole lot of what the athletic guard does doesn’t all the time present up on the stat sheet together with him impacting video games defensively.
Furphy acknowledged the marathon 82-game season nonetheless has a protracted approach to go as he will get again in control.
“Clearly I form of anticipated to have a interval the place I’m form of getting my ft again up below me,” he stated final month.
“I’ve by no means actually missed this quantity of video games earlier than, so I sort must be affected person with myself and provides myself a little bit of a relaxation.
“Simply comprehend it’s a protracted yr and I’m going to get my ft again below me.”
He admitted it’s been a “irritating” not having the ability to contribute to the struggling 6-30 Pacers, who’ve the worst report within the NBA in a spot yr with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined.
“My teammates and coaches did an excellent job of form of reminding to maintain the larger image, it’s such a protracted yr and lacking this primary section of the yr shouldn’t be a giant deal,” he added.
“I feel I’m going to have a protracted profession, so it’s just a bit bump within the street.”
Wembanyama limps off in Spurs win | 01:28
JOE INGLES (Minnesota Timberwolves)
It took till the brand new yr, however the veteran made his first bucket of the season!
Ingles within the fourth quarter of Minnesota’s beat down of Washington this week scored on a drive to the rim.
And the Wolves bench positive liked it as some teammates stood up and celebrated their beloved teammate. In the meantime, Ingles, in true Ingles vogue, appeared to interact in some cheeky banter with the Wizards bench.
It marked the 38-year outdated’s ninth recreation this marketing campaign, with Ingles very a lot in his twilight NBA days as a locker room veteran.
Ingles’ Wolves have received two video games in a row to sit down simply half a recreation behind Denver within the West’s No. 3 seed.
JOCK LANDALE (Memphis Grizzlies)
Personifies the ‘subsequent man up’ mentality.
Landale continues to be a key contributor on a Grizzlies staff that’s been damage by accidents all season.
The centre is once more making his additional minutes rely in latest weeks with Zach Edey pressured on the sidelines as soon as extra.
That’s regardless of Landale’s position as a starter not being as constant as when Edey began the season injured, with Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo operating extra fluid, matchup dependent line-ups.
The Aussie averaged 10.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and one three in simply 22.6 minutes within the month of December together with a 20-point, 10 rebound efficiency towards Minnesota.
Over the season, Landale is placing up 17.9 factors, 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 triples per 36 minutes in the perfect manufacturing of his profession.
“Simply come able to go each night time, the mentality is all the time the identical. Play with an depth and hope it pans out,” he stated post-match.
Certainly, Landale is placing collectively his finest NBA marketing campaign but as one of many prime worth signings after penning a one-year, minimal deal ($3.56 million AUD) with Memphis.
This latest kind noticed him named in ESPN’s ALL-Worth staff in December.
NBA Wrap: Daniels delivers as Hawks win | 02:29
DUOP REATH (Portland Path Blazers)
The massive man stays down within the centre pecking order for Portland behind Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III and Yang Hansen.
Reath hasn’t performed greater than seven minutes over the past fortnight, with most of his alternatives coming in junk time.
His expiring $2 million contract could possibly be used as a commerce chip forward of the February deadline.
LACHLAN OLBRICH (Chicago Bulls)
Olbrich has been predominantly plying his commerce for Chicago’s G League affiliate, Windy Metropolis Bulls, to assist along with his growth.
The second-round choose had an opportunity to earn NBA minutes whereas the Bulls have been hit by accidents, however Olbrich himself has been held out by an ankle challenge.
He put up 16 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists in his final G League look and 10, 10 rebounds and 6 assists earlier than that.
ROCCO ZIKARSKY (Minnesota Timberwolves)
The 7-foot-3 second-round draftee is, to no nice shock, nonetheless but to see his first NBA minutes on stacked Wolves staff.
However his progress within the G League has been significantly encouraging in restricted minutes.
The massive man put up 11 factors, 5 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in solely 20 minutes in his final outing and 20 factors, eight rebounds and 4 blocks in 24 minutes earlier than that.
Giddey OUT – LBJ upstaged by Pistons | 02:37
JOSH GREEN (Charlotte Hornets)
Again in motion!
Inexperienced made his season debut in mid-December after a lacking the primary two months of the season following shoulder surgical procedure.
He’s nonetheless been restricted, nevertheless, averaging 5 factors in 16.1 minutes from his 11 appearances with some strong performances combined in.
The 25-year outdated is a welcome addition to a Hornets bench that wants an offensive enhance and his 3-point capturing.
Charlotte’s second unit is ranked No. 23 within the NBA in offensive ranking and No. 17 in scoring together with No. 22 in 3-pointers made.
MATISSE THYBULLE (Portland Path Blazers)
A irritating, harm affected season for Thybulle, who’s but to play a single recreation after having surgical procedure to restore a torn ligament in his thumb.
The Blazers introduced final week that he’s additionally coping with proper knee tendinopathy whereas additionally ramping up from thumb surgical procedure.
There’s nonetheless no timetable for his return.
Thybulle’s $11 million contract expires on the finish of this season, that means he’ll turn out to be a free agent within the US summer time.
DANTE EXUM (Dallas Mavericks)
One other who’s season has been ruined by harm, Exum has been dominated out for the complete marketing campaign as a result of problems from a process on his proper knee.
The Mavericks have reportedly utilized for a Disabled Participant Exception for the 30-year outdated and Derek Energetic.
It’s value noting that Dallas would wish to create a roster spot to signal a participant with the DPE, which may go away Exum weak.
He signed a one-year, $3 million cope with the Mavs for this season.